Our Hope and Help

The word of God never ceases to amaze as He opens our eyes to His wonders.  It is almost like putting on glasses with a new prescription that allow our faulty eyes to see clearer than they have in a long while.  We often don't realise how blurry our vision is until God breaks through with revealing insights.

As long as I can remember, one of the primary complaints and criticisms I have heard of Christians by unbelievers or people out of church fellowship is hypocrisy among believers.  Many times this accusation is based upon an offended person's view of what a Christian ought to say or do and them not measuring up to this immaculate standard.  Sometimes these observations can be well founded, where a person makes a claim and then violates it without shame.  There is a degree of hypocrisy found in everyone, and a maxim that rings true about hypocrisy is it takes one to know one.  We notice hypocrisy and it bothers us because we too, at some level, do the same thing (Romans 2:1).

Elihu in the book of Job presented a depiction of a hypocrite which has nothing to do with common ways people claim Christians (or others) demonstrate hypocrisy:  it is to know the LORD God is sovereign and not go to Him for help in time of need.  In Job 36, Elihu laid out ways God disciplines, teaches and helps God-fearing people like Job by binding them in cords of affliction.  He then said in Job 36:11-13:  "If they obey and serve Him, they shall spend their days in prosperity, and their years in pleasures. ¹² But if they do not obey, they shall perish by the sword, and they shall die without knowledge. ¹³ But the hypocrites in heart store up wrath; they do not cry for help when He binds them."  To say you trust God to save your soul yet do not cry for help when He binds, that is a mark of hypocrisy we do well to repent of.

It is one thing to speak or act hypocritically, yet to be a hypocrite in heart is a devastating condition only God can deliver and save us from.  If we find in trials and troubles we depart from the LORD, feeling He is pushing us away, our hearts are not righteous before Him.  God allows painful circumstances to draw us near to Himself, to open our eyes to our need for help only He can supply.  When situations are out of our control and help is needed, Christians ought to turn to the almighty God Who has saved us by grace and use our lips to praise Jesus Christ who is our hope.

May our lives proclaim the goodness of God in all seasons of life as it is written in Psalm 31:21-24:  "Blessed be the LORD, for He has shown me His marvelous kindness in a strong city! ²² For I said in my haste, "I am cut off from before Your eyes"; nevertheless You heard the voice of my supplications when I cried out to You. ²³ Oh, love the LORD, all you His saints! For the LORD preserves the faithful, and fully repays the proud person. ²⁴ Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD."  The God who is our hope is also our help.