Hope

Talofa lava; greetings in the name of Jesus Christ.

 It has been quite a week with many spectators around the world especially throughout New Zealand, witnessing one of the greatest comebacks in America’s Cup history! And oh, how it hurt… I have been following the races closely, waking up each morning with a bowl of Weetbix, and anticipating
Emirates Team New Zealand to bring home the “Auld Mug.” However, it wasn’t to be. And as each race passed, and each day went by, the possibility of Team Oracle coming from behind to win became seemingly inevitable. We all had that “what if” in the back of our minds. 

Certain situations in life sometimes give us a similar feeling. It’s that feeling of high hopes and “thinking we know how this ends.” Unfortunately, we are left disappointed and frustrated when things don’t turn out the way we anticipated. Such disappointment can often have grave consequences. Perhaps we spend too much time on short fixes where our hopes and expectations are met? For example, the disillusion of gambling that leads one to believe in a get-rich-quick scheme. Yes, we celebrate the odd victory here and there in various areas in our lives, but HOPE itself is something that cannot be confined to a single moment in time – HOPE is ongoing.

God’s story – our story, is one of HOPE. It is also a story that encourages its characters (you and I) to live in hope. To be hope for others, just as Jesus was, and is, and forever will be, for all humanity. It is not a quick fix. It is a HOPE that lasts our entire lifetime (and beyond). The psalmist writes in Psalm 71:5, “Sovereign Lord, I put my hope in you; I have trusted in you since I was young.”

 1 Timothy 6:17 -20 calls for us to: “place our hope, not in such an uncertain thing as riches, but in God, who generously gives us everything for our enjoyment…and we will be able to win the life which is true life.” The America’s Cup may not have been won – but there is something even bigger to win
– true life. In what have you placed your hope? Unlike the racing, we know how this salvation story ends. Will you play a part in it?

 #LeanwithTeamJesus


Blessings,

 Rev. Gary Mauga