Month: August 2024

I have a friend who, while taking notes of a Bible teaching, accidently typed the word “nope” instead of “hope”.  (N and H are very close on the keyboard!)  When she saw the typo, she laughed and said, “Nope?? That’s about as far away from hope as you can get!”

Her story got me thinking…

There is way too much nope in the world.  We hear it every day.  “Nope” is the world’s answer-of-choice to every question. 

For instance… 

Question:  “Will I recover from this illness?”

The world’s answer:  “Nope.  But here are some drugs you can try.”

Question:  “Will I get this job?”

The world’s answer:  “Nope.  There are many people more qualified than you.”

Question:  “Will I find my soulmate?”

The world’s answer:  “Nope.  All the good ones are already taken.”

These may seem like silly examples, but isn’t that how the world always responds?  Whatever we wonder about, the world has a discouraging answer for.  How about the young girl who wonders if she is pretty enough?   The world almost always answers, “nope”.  And the businessman who wonders if he is successful enough.  The world always, always answers, “nope”!  Even the question, “Can I do this?” often meets with a resounding, “NOPE” from the world.   

Nope is the prevailing attitude of our society because all the schemes of the world are always negative.  They are designed to keep people down and prevent them from achieving their best.  They are disheartening, degrading and can be down-right debilitating.  Nope promotes fear.  And with all this nope in this world, people can certainly become dismayed. 

So, what’s the solution?  The solution to nope is HOPE!

To be clear, I am talking about hope as it’s delineated in the Bible.  People talk about hope in the world, but that hope is hollow.  It is fraught with uncertainty.  “I hope I win the lottery.” That statement really means, “I wish I’d win lottery.”  There is no solid foundation to base that hope on, so it’s just a wish and a big fat “if”.  The hope of the Bible is a sure thing; it is based on the foundation of God’s Word.  It is not an “if”, but a “when”.  There is no doubt that the things of God for which we hope, shall come to pass. 

In Biblical terms, hope is what we have for things that are not available right now.  We believe for the things that we can have now; but we hope for the things of the future. 

There is a hope in the Bible called THE hope, which is the hope of Christ’s return.  Christ’s return is a promise that God made to us.  And this promise is even more sure than the rising of the sun in the morning.   If God says that He is going to do something, He IS going to do it, and all hell can’t stop Him.  God said that He is going to send His son to gather us together unto Him and so shall we ever be with the Lord.  That is an uncontestable promise of an unstoppable event.  Therefore, we have THE hope as the anchor of our souls!  We KNOW that Christ is coming back for us.  And THE hope overrules every single nope. 

In our daily lives, we also have many other hopes.  I’ve heard them referred to as “little hopes”.  For example, I hope my family can visit for Christmas.  It’s something that is not available today, so it’s a hope.  And that hope anticipates a positive outcome.  I can act now by praying with believing and making plans for that time.  I can picture all the fun we’ll have.  But doing those things does not bring Christmas any sooner.  Christmas will still be December 25^th.

Hope in the things of God, carries His guarantee.  God’s words, His abilities and His promises never fail.  And God never changes.  So, our hope in Him is sure.  We are never disappointed in our expectation when we put our hope and trust in God.  However, our hope in people, or circumstances does not carry such a guarantee.  People change their minds, situations arise, any number of things can go awry.  But that shouldn’t stop us from being hopeful.  Isn’t staying hopeful much better than giving into nope? 

Hope encourages.  Nope discourages.  Hope anticipates a positive outcome.  Nope prevents a positive outcome.  Hope strengthens people’s resolve.  Nope beats people down.  We can rejoice when we have hope.  We are defeated when we have nope.  Expecting the best outcome, which hope does, makes that outcome a possibility.  Giving in to the negative schemes of the world, which nope does, eliminates any possibility of success.

There will always be nope in the world.  But hope can guard us from nope’s negative effects. Hope trounces nope every time! 

Psalm 42:5  Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

We can hold on to hope with its positive expectations because we can pray and believe.  And when we pray and believe, we can always, always, always count on God! 

Jeremiah 17:7  Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.

Note to my readers:  God is faithful today, tomorrow and forever.  We can always keep our hope in Him!  Thanks for reading. 

Have you ever heard the saying, “My way or the highway”? 

Many common sayings of today come from ancient roots, sometimes even Biblical roots.  “My way or the highway” is not one of them.  It was coined in the 1970’s and thought to be first used in relation to hitchhiking.  I understand its meaning and even its value in certain circumstances.

You might have heard this saying in the context of a dad speaking to his teenager when they have a difference of opinion.  The dad is saying that he is in charge of the family and if the teenager doesn’t like it, they are free to leave.  Generally, this is an idle threat because dads really don’t want their teenagers to leave, but they are trying to make a point.  And having raised three teenagers, I recognize how difficult parent-teenager communication can be!

We may have heard a coach or employer utilize this saying. In both cases, the ultimatum usually is intended, which isn’t always a bad thing.  A coach needs his players to follow his directions in order to properly function as a team and achieve a specific goal – to win!  If a player refuses to cooperate, they could affect the whole team’s performance, and thus should not be part of that team.  The coach may need to show that player the highway.

Employers also have precise requirements that need to be followed in order to achieve their business objectives.  Employees must obey the applicable laws, comply with company directives and policies, and adhere to multiple rules and regulations.  If an employee chooses not to do those things, he could jeopardize the company’s success, or worse – hurt himself or others.  Therefore, he shouldn’t work for that company and probably should be asked to hit the highway.

In all these examples, “my way” needs to be acknowledged.  A father, a coach, and an employer all have responsibilities to uphold.  Their roles put them in positions of authority.  And as such, their instructions should be heeded.  But what happens if “my way” is the wrong way?  What do we do then?

Do we need to obey wrong edicts?  No!  If we find ourselves in a situation where we are confronted with a way that is wrong (morally or any other way) and we cannot follow it in good conscience, we can show ourselves the highway.  If a person in authority asks us to do something that goes against our convictions, we have the right to choose our response.  However, our response is not a decision to be made lightly.  In many cases, a difference of opinion can be settled by both sides agreeing to listen to the other’s viewpoint and find an acceptable solution.  But if that doesn’t work, the highway may be the only option. 

People in authority should be good examples to follow.  They should lead by doing.  They should care about the people they’re leading, and they should aim to do the right thing.  Their respect should be genuinely earned, not coerced.  For example, a good dad has his children’s best interests at heart.  He endeavors to lead his children in the right way by his own actions and words.  He wants his children to grow up to be successful and happy.  He tries to act judiciously.  And in order to accomplish these things, he knows that discipline must be involved (hence a teenager’s opposition).  A good dad knows that discipline is a necessary part of life, but he is not a tyrant.

In our culture today, discipline has almost become a “dirty word”.  Receiving discipline is equated to cruel and unusual punishment.  Requiring discipline is considered to be stifling and restrictive.  Our culture touts the idea that “anything goes – no limits” is the key to happiness.  Yet, that attitude is actually completely stifling and restrictive because only the loudest and most outrageous people are heard, and alternative opinions or ideas are suppressed.  People are afraid speak out in disagreement, which is the very essence of oppression. 

Quite the opposite attitude is true.  Great athletes, artists, entrepreneurs, and such know that discipline is critical to their achievements.  They all practice mental and physical discipline in order to attain their goals.  And what is more satisfying than achieving a goal that you’ve been striving toward?  Talk about happiness! 

Disciplined people have FOCUS.  And they use that focus to hit their targets.  They know that without discipline, there is no focus.  And without focus, there is no clear path.  And without a clear path, people wander aimlessly. 

So, putting this all together, “My way or the highway” can be a good saying if it’s spoken to encourage positive results, not to be threatening.  It can be a call to work together to allay  differences.  And if it is received with an attitude of cooperation, it can produce much profit.

If you are the one saying, “my way…” just remember;  Jesus Christ is THE way, the truth and the life (John 14:6).  THE way indicates that there is only ONE right way.  In other words, “my way” must line up with THE way in order to be right.  Is your way lined up?  If not, you might have some work to do.

If you are the one hearing, “…or the highway” just remember;  all highways go somewhere.  You determine your destination.  Whether the trip is planned for you, or you plan it yourself, you are still the one who steers the vehicle.  And you can be comforted in knowing that even if your journey involves detours or traversing steep mountains and treacherous roads; God will always provide safe travels. 

Note to my readers:  Lining up your thoughts with THE way and trusting God on your way is the best way to go!  Thanks for reading!