For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4
One of the saddest sights for those who work in refugee and prisoner camps is to see people who squat on a small stool or a stump and slowly rock back and forth. These people maintain their monotonous rocking for hours, ignoring everything around them. This is the posture of someone who has lost all hope of escaping their pitiful circumstances. These people take no interest in food or companionship; they just want to be left alone in their misery. These people don’t live long. There is an old saying that while there is life, there is hope. And as humans, we need hope in order to survive. As Christians, we also need hope in order to function in our spiritual lives. And as long as we have the Scriptures, we have hope.
Our text reminds us of the value of the Scriptures in providing instruction for us. The Old Testament is full of examples, lessons, pictures, illustrations, and instruction for us. The New Testament is also brimming with everything that our souls need to remain healthy, happy, and useful for God. And it is only as we are useful for God that we have any hope, because we don’t get any hope from our usefulness in the world.
The world has its organizations for helping those who are hungry, poor, disadvantaged, sick, and helpless. Many of these organizations do wonderful work, and have been a great help to millions. But those organizations can go only so far. Very few of them have any interest in or burden for carrying the Gospel. That is where we come in. With the glorious hope that we have been given through our Salvation, and that we maintain through our constant contact with the Scriptures, we can bring to people that which their souls need, in addition to helping meet the needs of their bodies. Our text speaks of comfort and consolation. This we have, and this we can share.
Study the Word, to learn about the comfort we – and others – can have through the hope expressed in the Scriptures. -Jim MacIntosh