Backing Into Hope

To be able to read is such a gift!  Normally, as children, we are taught to recognize little symbols on a page (or monitor or screen or ...) and associate meanings with them.  We learn to recall what we've learned by practice, repetition, and attaching mental pictures to the symbols.
 To me, language is so full of layers of meaning, depth, and seems so colorful, especially the Hebrew and Greek of the Bible.  God is really good at painting word pictures for us so His concepts are clarified to our hearts and minds and we are able to really "see" what He is saying.

Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." RSV

We see in this scripture the Hebrew word-picture of God's expected end for each of us.  Picture with me this:

     A man is rowing a boat with his back towards the bow.  He is rowing forward but he is 
     sitting in the boat backward, unable to see what is ahead.  He is literally BACKING INTO 
     HIS FUTURE!

God has already gone before him/us (somewhere in God's eternity past time frame) and laid out our future.  As a loving Father, he helps us along by giving us glimpses of it; think about your hopes, aspirations, day dreams and visions.  Think about sitting early in the morning with a cup of coffee or tea and meditating on a scripture or a thought that has been tumbling around in your heart.  When you get one of those glimpses catch a hold of it and see if it is something you can build upon to move toward your future.

As we are backing our boat into our future we have to, at the same time, have it moored for safety.  We have the security of anchoring our hearts to Jesus' steadfast heart along the journey through this present age's treacherous waters.  There is so much unleashed on us that it is not hard to imagine what the Lord was referring to when He stated that in the last days men's hearts could fail them in fear.  Luke 21:26 "Men's hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken." KJV

In the hymn, "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing," Robert Robinson penned the words for us:  "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love..."

 The prophet Jeremiah felt like his heart was failing him, like he was drifting out of the careful security of the watchful Father's eye; he felt like he had a target painted on his back!  Have you ever felt like you were a walking target in someone's game of yard darts? (I know, it's an outlawed game.)  He felt like he was rowing backward, alright, but all he could focus on was what lay behind him:  a trail of tattered emotions, threats from the community and the administration, torn relationships, scars and broken dreams were scattered across the path he had been walking.  Can you relate?

     Lamentations 3:12-13, 18  "He hath bent his bow, and set me as a mark for the arrow.  
     He hath caused the arrows of his quiver to enter into my reins. (Pierced my loins.)  
     And I said, "My strength and my hope Have perished from the LORD."

But let's look at what happens in good ole verse 21: "This I recall to my mind, Therefore I have hope."  He remembered in humble thanksgiving what God had spared him from and the daily mercies and benefits of living life "under the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalm 91:1 KJV)  Jeremiah made his mind call upon all the word pictures that God had helped him store in his heart;  we see the cloud begin to dissipate and hope arise!