WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:02.100 Thanks, James. 00:00:03.100 --> 00:00:10.500 So I was debating, James was asking me just before we started, do you want to sit, do you want to stand, what's most comfortable for you? 00:00:10.500 --> 00:00:15.300 And I thought, well, maybe I'll actually sit on the floor to make James feel a little bit better about himself. 00:00:16.100 --> 00:00:22.039 But today you have the unique privilege of being able to see me from the back row as well. 00:00:22.420 --> 00:00:23.920 So I'll stand for you today. 00:00:23.920 --> 00:00:30.560 Contrary to popular belief, I will not actually really be speaking about Young Life University today. 00:00:31.540 --> 00:00:40.880 James has asked me to preach and share about Advent as we get started on this journey towards Christmas and the expectancy of what is to come. 00:00:41.540 --> 00:00:44.400 But I will give a brief Young Life University plug. 00:00:44.859 --> 00:00:48.859 If you want to work with university students, we're talking about hope today. 00:00:48.859 --> 00:00:53.960 I think university students suffer from a lot of hopelessness like we talked about last week. 00:00:54.079 --> 00:01:07.299 And so if you have a desire to offer hope, fun, relationship and belonging, come and talk to me afterwards because we would love to get you plugged in to what we're doing and planning on doing in the university campuses. 00:01:09.000 --> 00:01:10.939 So today is the first week of Advent. 00:01:11.079 --> 00:01:11.960 We've lit the candle. 00:01:12.219 --> 00:01:13.680 We've started to reflect on it. 00:01:13.780 --> 00:01:15.099 And we're talking about hope. 00:01:15.099 --> 00:01:24.399 Now, as I've talked with different people this week about what hope means to them as I talk with my kids and we talk about Christmas and preparing for Christmas, 00:01:25.079 --> 00:01:34.879 I think some of the things that come up when we talk about hope would be an expecting, an expectancy, a longing, an excitement for what is to come. 00:01:35.319 --> 00:01:40.500 Because usually with this hope we have an excitement that life is going to get better. 00:01:40.639 --> 00:01:43.560 Something is going to get better based on what we're expecting. 00:01:43.560 --> 00:01:49.260 So we live close to a mall that has Toys R Us in it. 00:01:49.859 --> 00:01:57.120 And so with having two kids, an eight and a six-year-old kid, almost every time we go to the mall, they ask to go to Toys R Us. 00:01:57.820 --> 00:02:02.379 They want to just look around and see what there is to look at and then ask for toys. 00:02:03.359 --> 00:02:07.540 And so this past week we went to Toys R Us and we were waiting outside. 00:02:07.700 --> 00:02:09.759 Half the time we actually don't even go in anymore. 00:02:09.759 --> 00:02:13.159 We just let the kids go run around and see what they want and then come out. 00:02:13.239 --> 00:02:18.219 And so we were waiting outside and I saw a book sitting on the shelf outside. 00:02:18.919 --> 00:02:20.419 And so it was this book. 00:02:20.819 --> 00:02:22.419 Maybe if you have kids you've seen it. 00:02:23.060 --> 00:02:25.039 Essentially, it's a book of toys. 00:02:25.039 --> 00:02:33.500 So not only do they get to look at toys now when they go to Toys R Us, now they can bring this home and look at it. 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:36.299 And beg us for the things that they see in this book. 00:02:37.259 --> 00:02:44.780 But it's funny because as I saw this book, it actually brought massive flashbacks for me as a kid. 00:02:44.780 --> 00:02:46.500 So we're from Canada. 00:02:46.640 --> 00:02:47.539 We grew up in Canada. 00:02:48.080 --> 00:02:51.920 And if you're from Canada, you may know a department store called Sears. 00:02:52.659 --> 00:02:54.920 It's sort of like a Mark's and a Spencer's. 00:02:54.960 --> 00:02:57.520 And so it has almost everything you could imagine. 00:02:58.139 --> 00:03:05.500 Now, from Sears, every Christmas when they were still sending out regular mail, you know, when you would actually receive paper at your door. 00:03:06.180 --> 00:03:12.259 Every year to, I'm pretty sure everyone in Canada, Sears would send out this book they call the Wish Book. 00:03:12.259 --> 00:03:16.219 They would send it out usually right around the beginning of November. 00:03:17.019 --> 00:03:20.459 And this book was this on steroids. 00:03:20.780 --> 00:03:23.179 It was probably this times 40. 00:03:24.159 --> 00:03:25.899 Filled with stuff. 00:03:26.519 --> 00:03:28.899 From toys to clothes to appliances. 00:03:29.500 --> 00:03:32.319 Anything anyone could ever hope or want for. 00:03:33.199 --> 00:03:36.479 And so as a kid, it was incredible. 00:03:37.019 --> 00:03:40.519 We waited for that day because it sort of marked the beginning of Christmas for us. 00:03:40.520 --> 00:03:42.260 It comes to your door. 00:03:42.740 --> 00:03:44.120 You pick it up from the door. 00:03:44.219 --> 00:03:46.580 It's all wrapped in plastic so it doesn't get wrecked from the snow. 00:03:46.780 --> 00:03:47.800 You pull it all out. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:51.140 And then you go to your room with your pencils, your highlighters. 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:53.600 Depending on who you are, maybe your sticky notes. 00:03:55.100 --> 00:03:59.080 And you start to categorize the things you want from the book. 00:03:59.080 --> 00:04:04.980 In hopes that your parents will also take the same amount of time to flip through the book. 00:04:05.240 --> 00:04:06.600 Hours upon hours upon hours. 00:04:06.600 --> 00:04:09.480 Seriously, hours spent pouring through this book. 00:04:11.060 --> 00:04:13.160 Hoping that your parents would see what you want. 00:04:13.580 --> 00:04:14.700 Get you what you want. 00:04:15.160 --> 00:04:17.220 And then life would just be perfect. 00:04:17.220 --> 00:04:24.260 And as I reflected on this book and the wish book, we laugh about it because it seems a little bit funny. 00:04:24.360 --> 00:04:30.060 But I think actually in our own lives as adults, we've started to create our own wish books. 00:04:30.520 --> 00:04:32.920 Maybe it's not a paper book. 00:04:33.440 --> 00:04:40.400 Maybe it's an Amazon cart or a Taobao cart or a LinkedIn profile or whatever it is. 00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:45.859 But we've started to create our own wish books of things we're hoping we'll get. 00:04:46.679 --> 00:04:48.120 Things we're working towards. 00:04:48.199 --> 00:04:50.039 Not that it's bad to work towards things. 00:04:50.120 --> 00:04:55.839 But things we're hoping for that will satisfy that thing in us that just isn't making us happy. 00:04:56.539 --> 00:04:58.339 That we're just not content. 00:04:59.379 --> 00:05:00.739 And so we categorize. 00:05:00.819 --> 00:05:01.259 We circle. 00:05:01.459 --> 00:05:01.879 We hope. 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:02.339 We hope. 00:05:02.419 --> 00:05:02.819 We hope. 00:05:03.859 --> 00:05:06.039 Our hope is often based on stuff. 00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:14.080 But as we actually look at a biblical definition of hope, we realize none of this stuff matters for us to have hope. 00:05:15.080 --> 00:05:20.620 If we look at the biblical word, it's a Hebrew word, which I'm probably pronouncing wrong. 00:05:21.060 --> 00:05:22.360 But it's tikvah. 00:05:23.320 --> 00:05:26.740 And so there's two sort of definitions that come along with it. 00:05:27.080 --> 00:05:30.020 It's a confident trust that God will keep his promises. 00:05:30.939 --> 00:05:34.300 Or a confidence in the presence of a divine strength. 00:05:34.300 --> 00:05:42.160 And so when we hear this definition, we actually realize none of this stuff matters. 00:05:42.620 --> 00:05:43.699 We don't need stuff. 00:05:44.079 --> 00:05:46.100 We don't need aspirations to have hope. 00:05:46.139 --> 00:05:52.920 Because our hope is actually found in the promise that God will fulfill all of his promises. 00:05:54.120 --> 00:05:57.300 And so today, there's a few verses I want to reflect on. 00:05:57.300 --> 00:05:59.620 On hope. 00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:05.520 Maybe different areas in our life, different times in our life that we could find hope in what we're walking through. 00:06:06.879 --> 00:06:11.840 And so the first area that I want to look at is hope in the midst of our waiting. 00:06:13.580 --> 00:06:14.740 Who likes to wait? 00:06:17.259 --> 00:06:19.080 Waiting is actually pretty tiring. 00:06:19.079 --> 00:06:19.159 Waiting. 00:06:19.800 --> 00:06:22.639 I often, we're just sitting there doing nothing. 00:06:23.339 --> 00:06:29.560 But by the time if we've waited an hour or two hours, maybe you're at the airport waiting for a plane or in the grocery store waiting to pay for stuff. 00:06:30.000 --> 00:06:34.079 By the time you're done waiting, you're exhausted after doing absolutely nothing. 00:06:36.860 --> 00:06:38.819 But the same goes in our own lives. 00:06:38.919 --> 00:06:41.500 How many times have we waited on God for something? 00:06:41.899 --> 00:06:45.480 We've prayed and we've prayed and we've prayed and we've said, God, I need direction. 00:06:46.339 --> 00:06:47.519 God, open this door. 00:06:47.779 --> 00:06:50.079 God, I need you to heal me. 00:06:51.860 --> 00:06:55.680 And we pray and we pray and we pray and nothing and nothing and nothing and we wait. 00:06:59.399 --> 00:07:02.800 We lose hope because we think, well, maybe it's just never going to happen. 00:07:02.980 --> 00:07:05.139 And so we just, we give up hoping for it. 00:07:05.139 --> 00:07:13.019 But if we go back to the biblical meaning of hope that it's a confidence in God fulfilling his promises, 00:07:13.699 --> 00:07:19.360 we can look through the Bible in five numerous verses that will help us get through it. 00:07:20.039 --> 00:07:24.680 The verse I want to look at today is in Isaiah or Isaiah, depending on where you're from. 00:07:28.680 --> 00:07:31.479 Isaiah 40, verse 28 to 31. 00:07:31.480 --> 00:07:33.500 It says, 00:07:33.500 --> 00:07:35.560 Do you not know, have you not heard? 00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:39.520 The Lord is the everlasting God, the creator of the ends of the earth. 00:07:39.860 --> 00:07:44.060 He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 00:07:44.740 --> 00:07:48.560 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 00:07:49.160 --> 00:07:51.120 Even youths grow tired and weary. 00:07:51.540 --> 00:07:52.480 Though, you know, I'm not sure. 00:07:52.540 --> 00:07:53.400 We have two young kids. 00:07:53.480 --> 00:07:55.379 I don't know if they ever grow tired and weary. 00:07:55.379 --> 00:08:01.560 And young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. 00:08:02.000 --> 00:08:03.540 They will soar on wings like eagles. 00:08:03.639 --> 00:08:04.980 They will run and not grow weary. 00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:06.959 They will not walk and not faint. 00:08:07.439 --> 00:08:11.819 And so in the midst of our waiting, in the midst of the unknown, in the midst of our praying and saying, 00:08:11.939 --> 00:08:14.019 God, please, God, please, God, please. 00:08:14.659 --> 00:08:17.899 And we're just getting so tired and frustrated that nothing is happening. 00:08:17.899 --> 00:08:25.879 We find encouragement that it's in the midst of that waiting that as we trust in God and as we look to God, 00:08:27.239 --> 00:08:29.399 He gives us the strength to continue going. 00:08:30.379 --> 00:08:32.220 We have an Advent calendar at home. 00:08:32.279 --> 00:08:34.539 I don't know how many of you did Advent calendars growing up. 00:08:34.819 --> 00:08:40.319 We have an Advent calendar that has every day from the beginning of December to Christmas Eve where our kids do something. 00:08:40.500 --> 00:08:44.960 We put little candies in it as well as there's like a task or a Bible verse. 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:50.120 Maybe they read a Bible verse or they do something good for someone, something like that every single day. 00:08:50.400 --> 00:08:55.460 Because in the midst of waiting for Christmas, it can seem so far away for kids. 00:08:55.860 --> 00:09:00.920 It can seem like, is it ever going to get here because of that anticipation? 00:09:02.940 --> 00:09:08.600 But with an Advent calendar, there's that little bit of hope each day that we're getting closer. 00:09:09.580 --> 00:09:10.580 It's the candy. 00:09:11.019 --> 00:09:12.060 It's the Bible verse. 00:09:12.139 --> 00:09:14.600 Whatever it is, it's the hope that we're getting closer. 00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:20.159 And sometimes I think in the midst of our waiting, we actually forget to do the small things 00:09:20.159 --> 00:09:26.639 because we're waiting so much on God to do the big thing for us that we miss out on the small things that are happening each and every day. 00:09:28.519 --> 00:09:32.920 And so I think in the midst of our waiting, in the midst of feeling tired and weary, 00:09:34.500 --> 00:09:39.340 sometimes all we have to do is take two minutes and read the Bible. 00:09:39.500 --> 00:09:41.300 Two minutes and pray every day. 00:09:41.299 --> 00:09:46.719 It's in the small things where God strengthens, where God renews, where God gives hope. 00:09:46.720 --> 00:09:56.259 Because we actually end up finding out that in the midst of our waiting, that's often when God is actually working the most in our lives. 00:09:56.879 --> 00:09:59.940 Because he'll eventually answer our prayer in some way. 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:03.460 And as we look back, we see, wow, God, you did incredible things in me in that time. 00:10:03.460 --> 00:10:12.720 But it's in the small things each and every day that we're doing that bring us closer to him, that give us the strength, that carry us through. 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:15.840 And so I don't know what you're waiting for. 00:10:15.900 --> 00:10:17.160 I don't know what you're praying for. 00:10:17.540 --> 00:10:19.560 I don't know how long you've been waiting for it. 00:10:20.280 --> 00:10:21.920 But I want to encourage you with that. 00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:27.459 Know that we serve a God who gives us strength in the midst of being weary. 00:10:29.199 --> 00:10:30.799 Just go to him every day. 00:10:30.860 --> 00:10:32.000 Two minutes, three minutes. 00:10:33.939 --> 00:10:35.039 It'll make a difference. 00:10:35.979 --> 00:10:41.959 The second thing I want to reflect on is just that there's hope in the midst of our troubles. 00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:51.879 So I think we've gotten pretty good at putting on masks in our lives, whether it's through social media or whether it's through Zoom. 00:10:52.100 --> 00:10:55.780 I don't know about you, but during the pandemic, how many Zoom meetings did you have? 00:10:57.780 --> 00:11:00.840 We've gotten really good at making things look good, right? 00:11:00.900 --> 00:11:02.240 And so we're on Zoom. 00:11:02.320 --> 00:11:03.519 You're on Zoom with a colleague. 00:11:03.700 --> 00:11:06.420 For all you know, they're in a shirt and tie. 00:11:06.560 --> 00:11:07.720 They're fully dressed up. 00:11:08.100 --> 00:11:10.620 But little do you know, they're actually only in their underwear. 00:11:10.620 --> 00:11:14.879 And their background is actually blurred out. 00:11:14.980 --> 00:11:16.799 So you have no idea what's going on behind them. 00:11:16.899 --> 00:11:19.500 But their entire house is a mess. 00:11:21.460 --> 00:11:23.840 They look like they have it all together. 00:11:25.000 --> 00:11:26.919 And it's really all falling apart. 00:11:29.820 --> 00:11:33.399 I think that's actually quite an accurate picture of a lot of our lives. 00:11:33.860 --> 00:11:35.039 We walk into church. 00:11:35.100 --> 00:11:35.740 Hey, how are you? 00:11:35.960 --> 00:11:36.940 Oh, so good. 00:11:37.120 --> 00:11:39.019 Life has been so good this week. 00:11:40.620 --> 00:11:41.460 You go to work. 00:11:41.940 --> 00:11:42.639 Oh, how are you? 00:11:42.700 --> 00:11:43.940 Oh, everything's great. 00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:51.940 And we've gotten so good at putting that mask on because we don't want to admit we have troubles in our lives. 00:11:53.179 --> 00:11:54.580 Because maybe it means we're a failure. 00:11:54.759 --> 00:11:57.019 We're not doing things well enough or whatever it is. 00:11:57.019 --> 00:12:09.000 But one of my favorite, simplest verses that I always come back to is Matthew 28, verse 20. 00:12:09.120 --> 00:12:10.439 It's the end of the Great Commission. 00:12:10.539 --> 00:12:12.059 So Jesus is, he's with his disciples. 00:12:12.259 --> 00:12:14.159 He's saying, I'm going to be leaving you behind. 00:12:14.240 --> 00:12:16.159 But you go and you go share the gospel. 00:12:16.840 --> 00:12:17.699 I'll see you later. 00:12:17.700 --> 00:12:21.220 But he ends with this. 00:12:21.340 --> 00:12:26.320 He says, surely I am with you always to the very end of the age. 00:12:27.220 --> 00:12:31.480 He doesn't say, surely I'm with you and I will make everything better for you. 00:12:31.900 --> 00:12:34.960 I will take away all your troubles and I will make everything great. 00:12:35.020 --> 00:12:38.640 He says, surely I am with you and I am always with you. 00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:43.539 I actually find incredible comfort in that. 00:12:45.199 --> 00:12:51.919 When I was in college, I went home for Thanksgiving weekend and my friend said, hey, do you want to run a half marathon with me? 00:12:51.960 --> 00:12:53.100 So about 22 kilometers. 00:12:53.659 --> 00:12:54.379 And I said, sure. 00:12:54.580 --> 00:12:55.500 I hadn't been running. 00:12:55.580 --> 00:12:56.279 I hadn't been training. 00:12:56.460 --> 00:12:58.120 I hadn't done anything for a couple years. 00:12:58.139 --> 00:13:00.299 But I said, sure, I'll run it with you. 00:13:00.340 --> 00:13:01.740 And so we go out and we start running. 00:13:01.819 --> 00:13:04.559 And the first 10 kilometers are great, no issues. 00:13:04.559 --> 00:13:08.839 But as we get to about 14, 15 kilometers, my legs are burning. 00:13:09.939 --> 00:13:10.939 I'm getting cramps. 00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:12.919 It's hard to breathe. 00:13:13.479 --> 00:13:15.159 I'm like, this is a bad idea. 00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:19.879 And I just keep saying to my friend, you know, like, go ahead, go ahead, go ahead. 00:13:19.919 --> 00:13:20.319 It's fine. 00:13:20.799 --> 00:13:22.399 And they say, no, I'm with you. 00:13:22.559 --> 00:13:24.139 Like, we're getting through this. 00:13:24.219 --> 00:13:25.199 We're going to make it through. 00:13:25.279 --> 00:13:26.119 We're getting to the end. 00:13:26.159 --> 00:13:27.059 I'll get you to the end. 00:13:27.559 --> 00:13:28.879 I'm not leaving your side. 00:13:28.879 --> 00:13:35.799 We have the creator of the universe saying that to us. 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:39.639 It doesn't matter what you're walking through. 00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:42.799 How desperate it seems. 00:13:43.679 --> 00:13:45.399 He's saying, I am with you. 00:13:45.439 --> 00:13:46.580 And I'm not just with you today. 00:13:46.679 --> 00:13:48.939 I am with you until the very end. 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:51.439 Right by your side. 00:13:51.720 --> 00:13:54.039 We will get you through this. 00:13:56.919 --> 00:13:58.379 So we find hope in that. 00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:06.100 But we also find hope in that we're part of a community that is also saying that to you as well. 00:14:06.840 --> 00:14:12.159 And so sometimes I feel like we're so afraid of being ourselves because we don't know what people are going to think of us. 00:14:14.320 --> 00:14:20.439 But the privilege of being part of this, part of church, is that we can actually put down those masks. 00:14:20.700 --> 00:14:22.620 We can unblur our background. 00:14:23.500 --> 00:14:25.460 Please don't stand up if you're just in your underwear. 00:14:25.460 --> 00:14:27.200 We would appreciate not seeing that. 00:14:28.879 --> 00:14:30.659 But you can unblur your background. 00:14:32.700 --> 00:14:37.179 And we're here saying, God is with you, but we are also with you. 00:14:37.480 --> 00:14:38.700 Let's get through this together. 00:14:39.340 --> 00:14:40.679 And so I don't know what you're walking through. 00:14:40.679 --> 00:14:44.799 I don't know how difficult or horrible or great life has been for you. 00:14:45.339 --> 00:14:51.679 And as you look ahead to Christmas and what Christmas means, some people love it and some people absolutely hate it. 00:14:53.139 --> 00:14:54.839 Because of what's happened in the past. 00:14:54.840 --> 00:15:03.460 Know that Jesus is saying to you, I'm here with you always. 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:06.320 To the very end, I'm here. 00:15:07.080 --> 00:15:08.040 I am here with you. 00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:22.199 And then the last thought I want to share with you today is that as we look at hope and the anticipation of what is to come, 00:15:22.279 --> 00:15:24.199 sometimes we simply have to do that. 00:15:24.259 --> 00:15:27.519 We need to remind ourselves of what is to come. 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:31.100 Sometimes we just have to lift our eyes up. 00:15:31.519 --> 00:15:40.039 We can get so caught up in our lives and what's going on within us that we forget where we're going towards, what we're running towards, what the end goal is. 00:15:41.659 --> 00:15:53.279 This weekend, yesterday, we made a decision, probably an unwise decision, to go out to Disneyland because our kids are so desperate to see the world of Frozen. 00:15:53.279 --> 00:15:59.639 It's been open for a whole 10 days, so all the crowds must be gone by now. 00:16:03.120 --> 00:16:07.459 So I'm pretty sure all of Hong Kong and Southeast Asia was at Disneyland yesterday. 00:16:10.059 --> 00:16:16.079 But we showed up and obviously the first thing they say is, you know, we want to go ride the new rides in Frozen. 00:16:16.259 --> 00:16:19.259 So we go right there and we get to the sleigh ride. 00:16:19.339 --> 00:16:20.720 It's the new roller coaster or whatever. 00:16:21.079 --> 00:16:21.319 I don't know. 00:16:21.360 --> 00:16:22.120 Has anyone been there? 00:16:23.279 --> 00:16:24.399 Okay, there's been a couple people. 00:16:24.539 --> 00:16:24.779 Perfect. 00:16:24.959 --> 00:16:25.839 So we get there. 00:16:27.480 --> 00:16:30.500 And it's an hour wait and the kids don't care. 00:16:31.600 --> 00:16:32.679 They say, we're doing this. 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:33.639 This is what we came for. 00:16:33.720 --> 00:16:35.399 And so I say, okay, I will wait with you. 00:16:37.259 --> 00:16:39.839 And so we'd never been on this ride before, obviously. 00:16:39.839 --> 00:16:45.059 And so we weren't aware of what the line looked like, what the queue, how it weaves and waves and stuff like that. 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:49.699 And so we're in line and we get inside and most of it is inside of a building. 00:16:49.700 --> 00:16:54.259 Now, some of the rides out at Disneyland, you can see the whole queue ahead of you. 00:16:54.320 --> 00:16:57.060 So you know what to expect and what you're going towards. 00:16:57.780 --> 00:16:59.600 This one, you have no idea. 00:17:00.140 --> 00:17:03.060 It's like corner after corner after corner after corner. 00:17:03.059 --> 00:17:07.879 And so you're just holding out hope that around the next corner you're going to get there. 00:17:09.299 --> 00:17:11.419 And so in the midst of it, we're singing. 00:17:11.619 --> 00:17:14.539 Bella's favorite thing to do in waiting is singing songs. 00:17:14.940 --> 00:17:19.059 So usually we're like singing worship songs, but it turned out to be Christmas songs yesterday. 00:17:19.059 --> 00:17:22.659 But we couldn't see the full picture. 00:17:22.819 --> 00:17:25.019 And so it seemed like a long time. 00:17:25.599 --> 00:17:29.339 And in the midst of it, I'll admit I was feeling pretty hopeless. 00:17:29.799 --> 00:17:31.359 I was like, let's just leave. 00:17:31.460 --> 00:17:32.359 We can't see the end. 00:17:32.460 --> 00:17:33.059 Let's just go. 00:17:33.220 --> 00:17:34.579 Nope, nope, we're going to do it. 00:17:37.179 --> 00:17:41.200 But I think that was actually quite an accurate picture sometimes for our own lives. 00:17:41.200 --> 00:17:53.039 We get so caught up in what's going on and we get so inward focused in what's going on in me that we start to feel hopeless because we don't know what's around the corner. 00:17:54.200 --> 00:17:56.220 We don't know what we're going towards. 00:17:59.620 --> 00:18:06.440 But in the scripture, we're reminded we're actually headed towards something pretty incredible. 00:18:06.440 --> 00:18:12.380 And we're reminded that sometimes we just have to lift our eyes up. 00:18:12.720 --> 00:18:15.500 We just have to look ahead and remember that goal. 00:18:16.759 --> 00:18:22.039 If we look at 2 Corinthians 4 verse 16 to 17, it says, 00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:24.259 Therefore, we do not lose heart. 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:29.700 Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 00:18:29.700 --> 00:18:36.580 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them. 00:18:37.480 --> 00:18:43.039 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen. 00:18:43.380 --> 00:18:46.299 For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 00:18:48.019 --> 00:18:57.400 In our last week of Revelations, James talked about in Revelations 21 how the end goal, where we're going towards, there's no tears, there's no pain. 00:18:57.400 --> 00:19:00.940 It's a perfect place of being in the presence of God forever. 00:19:03.280 --> 00:19:06.200 Sometimes we've got to fix our eyes on what is unseen. 00:19:06.460 --> 00:19:09.660 We've got to remind ourselves that we're part of something bigger. 00:19:10.120 --> 00:19:14.740 Because as we look up to the end goal, to the bigger things, 00:19:15.900 --> 00:19:22.160 it not always minimizes what's going on in our lives, but it gives us perspective of what is going on in our lives. 00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:27.279 I like to call this an eternal perspective. 00:19:27.540 --> 00:19:31.900 And so when I'm struggling with things, or I have issues with my boss, or things like that, 00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:36.700 I like to ask myself, 00:19:37.140 --> 00:19:40.700 in light of eternity, how much does this actually matter? 00:19:42.300 --> 00:19:44.820 Because we can make the small things such a big deal, 00:19:44.900 --> 00:19:47.279 the arguments with the co-workers, or whatever it is, 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:50.639 we become so all consumed by it. 00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:52.599 But when we ask ourselves, 00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:53.899 in light of eternity, 00:19:54.200 --> 00:19:55.980 does this actually really affect me? 00:19:56.279 --> 00:19:57.940 Majority of the time, the answer is, 00:19:58.180 --> 00:20:01.139 it actually affects me far less than I imagined it would. 00:20:02.359 --> 00:20:03.920 Because what I'm going towards 00:20:03.920 --> 00:20:05.359 is something so much greater. 00:20:05.980 --> 00:20:07.440 There is so much more purpose. 00:20:09.299 --> 00:20:11.359 And so sometimes in the midst of whatever we're going through, 00:20:11.399 --> 00:20:12.940 we just need to remind ourselves of that. 00:20:12.940 --> 00:20:15.920 As we were waiting in the line, 00:20:16.039 --> 00:20:18.080 as the end opens up, 00:20:18.320 --> 00:20:18.519 we say, 00:20:18.600 --> 00:20:21.080 we can see what we're going towards. 00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:22.299 Yeah, there's still zigzags. 00:20:22.519 --> 00:20:22.960 Yeah, we still, 00:20:23.140 --> 00:20:25.400 but at least we know where it ends. 00:20:27.180 --> 00:20:28.299 And the ride was, 00:20:29.200 --> 00:20:30.240 don't wait an hour. 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:33.320 Honestly, it was, 00:20:33.600 --> 00:20:35.100 I'm not exaggerating. 00:20:35.220 --> 00:20:36.940 I think it was a 20-second ride. 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:39.580 Like, seriously, 20 seconds. 00:20:40.940 --> 00:20:41.740 26 seconds. 00:20:41.740 --> 00:20:43.579 Yeah, it, 00:20:43.660 --> 00:20:46.140 it's not worth the hour wait. 00:20:48.299 --> 00:20:49.740 But as we were waiting in line, 00:20:49.799 --> 00:20:50.859 and as it opened up, 00:20:51.559 --> 00:20:53.279 we felt hopeful again. 00:20:54.000 --> 00:20:54.960 But as believers, 00:20:55.160 --> 00:20:56.440 we have the privilege of knowing 00:20:56.440 --> 00:20:58.039 where we're headed towards. 00:21:00.140 --> 00:21:01.680 And if we don't believe, 00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:03.440 you have the opportunity 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:05.039 to know where you are headed towards, 00:21:05.099 --> 00:21:06.839 and the hope that comes along with that. 00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.420 And so I don't know 00:21:10.420 --> 00:21:11.440 what you're walking through today. 00:21:11.740 --> 00:21:14.880 I know for probably all of us, 00:21:14.960 --> 00:21:15.759 life isn't perfect, 00:21:15.759 --> 00:21:16.680 and we all have things 00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:17.279 we're dealing with 00:21:17.279 --> 00:21:17.940 and walking through 00:21:17.940 --> 00:21:20.299 and maybe feeling hopeless about. 00:21:20.500 --> 00:21:20.859 And so I just, 00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:22.440 I wanted to encourage you with that. 00:21:24.519 --> 00:21:26.079 That in the midst of your waiting, 00:21:26.299 --> 00:21:28.500 no matter how long the wait is, 00:21:29.240 --> 00:21:30.259 there's a God 00:21:30.259 --> 00:21:31.759 who wants to strengthen you 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:32.680 and encourage you 00:21:32.680 --> 00:21:33.539 and get you through it. 00:21:33.539 --> 00:21:36.420 that in the midst of your troubles, 00:21:36.759 --> 00:21:38.879 in the midst of not knowing 00:21:38.879 --> 00:21:39.960 how to move forward, 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:41.319 if you can move forward 00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:42.779 or what tomorrow looks like, 00:21:42.859 --> 00:21:44.379 there is a God who says, 00:21:44.639 --> 00:21:46.399 I am with you always. 00:21:48.180 --> 00:21:48.619 Always. 00:21:48.819 --> 00:21:50.099 No matter what you've done, 00:21:50.759 --> 00:21:52.059 no matter what you're doing 00:21:52.059 --> 00:21:52.519 or what you will, 00:21:52.619 --> 00:21:54.180 I am with you always. 00:21:54.180 --> 00:21:58.080 And then, 00:21:58.320 --> 00:21:59.259 in light of eternity, 00:22:00.259 --> 00:22:02.680 let's remember that. 00:22:02.980 --> 00:22:04.400 What is our eternal perspective? 00:22:04.720 --> 00:22:06.140 What are we going towards? 00:22:07.000 --> 00:22:08.080 What are we running towards? 00:22:09.240 --> 00:22:10.900 We're going to close with a song. 00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:12.100 I think we'll get James to close 00:22:12.100 --> 00:22:14.340 with a song. 00:22:17.560 --> 00:22:18.560 But the last verse 00:22:18.560 --> 00:22:19.580 I want to read for you 00:22:19.580 --> 00:22:20.540 is 00:22:20.540 --> 00:22:22.920 Lamentations. 00:22:24.740 --> 00:22:25.220 Jeremiah, 00:22:25.640 --> 00:22:26.660 he wrote this 00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:27.460 and he's in the midst 00:22:27.460 --> 00:22:28.300 of seeing destruction 00:22:28.300 --> 00:22:29.019 all around him. 00:22:29.100 --> 00:22:29.580 The temple, 00:22:29.900 --> 00:22:30.300 Jerusalem, 00:22:30.560 --> 00:22:31.360 is 00:22:31.360 --> 00:22:33.840 falling around him 00:22:33.840 --> 00:22:34.540 and he says, 00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:35.880 it's Lamentations 3, 00:22:35.960 --> 00:22:37.220 verse 22 to 24. 00:22:37.380 --> 00:22:37.740 He says, 00:22:38.040 --> 00:22:39.200 but this I call to mind 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:40.880 and therefore I have hope. 00:22:40.900 --> 00:22:44.040 The steadfast love 00:22:44.040 --> 00:22:44.620 of the Lord 00:22:44.620 --> 00:22:45.620 never ceases. 00:22:46.700 --> 00:22:47.420 His mercies 00:22:47.420 --> 00:22:48.680 never come to an end. 00:22:49.340 --> 00:22:50.120 They are new 00:22:50.120 --> 00:22:50.880 every morning. 00:22:51.620 --> 00:22:53.340 Great is your faithfulness. 00:22:54.300 --> 00:22:55.800 The Lord is my portion, 00:22:55.960 --> 00:22:56.600 says my soul. 00:22:57.540 --> 00:22:58.060 Therefore, 00:22:58.280 --> 00:22:59.120 I hope in him. 00:23:01.759 --> 00:23:02.680 And so let's remember 00:23:02.680 --> 00:23:03.480 that our hope 00:23:03.480 --> 00:23:03.980 isn't found 00:23:03.980 --> 00:23:05.080 in the stuff of the world, 00:23:05.440 --> 00:23:07.019 but it's in confidence 00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:08.140 that God will fulfill 00:23:08.140 --> 00:23:08.820 his promises. 00:23:08.819 --> 00:23:11.240 And so today, 00:23:11.319 --> 00:23:11.759 let's say, 00:23:11.980 --> 00:23:12.159 Lord, 00:23:12.279 --> 00:23:13.399 you are my portion 00:23:13.399 --> 00:23:16.139 and I put my hope 00:23:16.139 --> 00:23:16.539 in you. 00:23:18.539 --> 00:23:19.159 Let's pray. 00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:26.139 Father, 00:23:26.220 --> 00:23:27.079 we thank you 00:23:27.079 --> 00:23:27.700 for your goodness 00:23:27.700 --> 00:23:28.679 and your faithfulness 00:23:28.679 --> 00:23:29.399 in our lives. 00:23:29.400 --> 00:23:34.220 we thank you 00:23:34.220 --> 00:23:34.920 that in the midst 00:23:34.920 --> 00:23:36.280 of our waiting 00:23:36.280 --> 00:23:37.660 and our anticipation 00:23:37.660 --> 00:23:39.640 of Christmas 00:23:39.640 --> 00:23:40.800 and what is to come 00:23:40.800 --> 00:23:42.500 and just the waiting 00:23:42.500 --> 00:23:43.140 in our lives 00:23:43.140 --> 00:23:43.800 and what's to come 00:23:43.800 --> 00:23:44.380 in our lives, 00:23:44.540 --> 00:23:45.500 that you are there 00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:45.940 with us 00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:46.800 and you are carrying 00:23:46.800 --> 00:23:47.360 us through. 00:23:49.280 --> 00:23:50.360 I pray that today 00:23:50.360 --> 00:23:51.220 we would be strengthened, 00:23:51.380 --> 00:23:52.240 we would be encouraged, 00:23:52.400 --> 00:23:53.560 that you would renew 00:23:53.560 --> 00:23:55.519 our hope in you, 00:23:55.960 --> 00:23:56.680 that we wouldn't look 00:23:56.680 --> 00:23:57.780 to the things of this world 00:23:57.779 --> 00:23:58.480 to satisfy, 00:23:58.639 --> 00:23:59.359 but that we would look 00:23:59.359 --> 00:24:00.500 to you to satisfy 00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.259 those longings 00:24:01.259 --> 00:24:01.859 within us. 00:24:04.259 --> 00:24:05.599 Give us people around us 00:24:05.599 --> 00:24:06.660 to do this life with. 00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:09.720 Strengthen us today, 00:24:09.859 --> 00:24:10.119 Father. 00:24:10.259 --> 00:24:10.960 In your name we pray. 00:24:11.720 --> 00:24:11.960 Amen. 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:12.059 Amen. 00:24:12.059 --> 00:24:12.099 Amen. 00:24:12.099 --> 00:24:12.099 00:24:12.099 --> 00:24:12.099 00:24:12.099 --> 00:24:12.099 00:24:12.099 --> 00:24:12.099 00:24:12.099 --> 00:24:12.099 00:24:12.099 --> 00:24:12.099 00:24:12.099 --> 00:24:12.099