Hope

Hello my name is Ben Hutton and I am the pastor of Thornhill Baptist Church, Dewsbury, West Yorkshire. 

It is clear that the world is in crisis. We are in turmoil. Many are ill and lives are being lost. Many of us have never seen anything like it. These times are distressing, perplexing and deeply concerning. Is there an answer? Is there any hope? What confidence do we have going forward? 

The Bible is the word of God and gives us real answers to big questions. It provides the best possible hope we can have. In Psalm 46, the psalmist has this assurance for us: verse 1: 'God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.' No one would doubt that this is a troubled time. But God has promised to be '...our refuge and strength.' in trouble, especially now. Surely we must turn to God. He is the one who can help us. He is the Christian’s shelter. We all know what it is to be sheltered, maybe under a tree when the weather is inclement. God has promised to be a shelter for us. He is our shelter in the blasts of life when we come under His protection. 

He is also our strength. The fact that is that we have no strength of our own. We have come away from God. We have turned our backs on Him. we have broken His good laws. The Bible calls this sin. But although we have sinned and therefore offended God greatly, He will forgive us when we turn from our sins and trust in Him.

How is it possible for God to be our refuge and strength? It is because God has sent His son the Lord Jesus Christ to come into the world as the saviour for our sins. 1 John chapter 4 verse 14 says: '...the Father has sent the Son as Saviour of the world.' Jesus Christ did not stay in heaven. He came down to this world. He became a man. He knew the hardships and sufferings of this earth. we are told 'A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief', Isaiah 53:3b. His sufferings peaked when He died on the cross. When Jesus died, He did so as a sacrifice for our sins. Christ died in the sinners place. 'For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God.'  1 Peter 3:18. But three days later He rose again. Sometime after He ascended into heaven and sits at God's right hand. 

He really does welcome those who come to Him by faith. He will welcome you. He said '...the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.' Come to Christ. Keep on coming to Christ. He will receive you with open arms. If you have never trusted in Christ as your saviour and Lord, then I would urge you to do so. If are trusting in Him, you can say with assurance: 'God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;' Psalm 46:1-2. 

Amen