Hope - John Andrews
In his brilliant article written exclusively for this website, John Andrews explores some of the characteristics of hope, peppered with inspirational anecdotes and practical examples.
Pastor John Andrews MA, PhD is a well-known author and bible teacher and a very good friend of Roy Todd.
He’s the senior pastor of Rotherham New Life Christian Centre in Yorkshire, England, senior lecturer at Mattersey Bible College and a member of the national leadership team of the Assemblies of God, Britain.
For more information on John’s publications, click onto www.esbresources.co.uk
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As Eric Moussambani finished his 100-metre freestyle race at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney Australia, he could not have imagined the celebrity status that awaited him. Representing Equatorial Guinea, the 22-year-old swimmer finished his race last, in a time of 1 minute 52.72 seconds. When we consider the fastest qualifier in the same race, Pieter van den Hoogenband of the Netherlands, did it in 48.64 seconds, the reality dawns that Eric splashed in over one minute behind the winner. In that time Pieter was probably dried, changed and on his way out of the building.
Eric was a wildcard entry in the race, part of a programme that encourages the sport in countries where swimming is not traditionally practiced. Remarkably, he had only taken swimming up seriously six months before, and the Olympics were the first time he had swam in a 50 metre pool. Eric confessed afterwards that ‘the last 15 metres were very difficult’’ but helped by a cheering crowd he completed what he had started. When he could have quit or even should have quit, he did not. For such an attitude he won the crowd if not the gold.
Hope says, ‘I’ve started so I’ll finish’
My greatest heroes tend to be people who finished well. They are those who could or should have given up, but who somehow kept going and by the end of their lives, produced something of worth and substance. The bold, beautiful and brilliant may get the limelight, but the finishers get the glory. Have a look at the marriages you admire the most, and they’ve probably been at it a while. Check out the large and influential churches in Britain and around the world, and the leader has probably been there a while.
I am inspired and challenged by the example of the Apostle Paul when he said,
“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:24)
Later when writing from a prison cell having been abandoned by ‘friends’ and opposed by the forces of darkness his words are still triumphant and his tone is hopeful.
“I have fought, struggled and competed for the prize, I have finished, completed, executed, concluded and discharged my duty and I have kept, guarded from loss or injury, ensured it was the centre of my focus, my faith.”
It was no accident that Paul made it to the end. He finished because he wanted to, because he was determined to. Paul lived until he died.
Hope says, ‘Never give up’
Winston Churchill stands out in the twentieth century as a massively influential figure both in Britain and the world. As I read the biography Churchill, written by Roy Jenkins, I was struck by two things. The first was that Churchill had an overwhelming sense of destiny regarding his life. He believed he was meant to be significant and that he would one day succeed. He refused to be ‘imprisoned by the circumstances of his birth. His devotion to his career and his conviction that he was a man of destiny were far stronger than any class or tribal loyalty.’ The second was his perseverance. Written off many times, Churchill kept going and confounded his opponents and critics on more than one occasion. His ability to bounce back and press on is inspirational and indeed it was this bull-doggedness which helped Britain get through the dark and uncertain days of the World War II.
Both the Apostle Paul and Churchill knew something about finishing, so what can we learn from these great men?
Hope sees the BIG PICTURE not the blip.
Devastated by enemy bombing, Churchill stood before the people of Hull on 7th November 1941, reminding them that each test and challenge could be turned to good. ‘We kept on doing our best, we kept on improving. We profited by our mistakes and our experiences. We turned misfortune to good account.’ Churchill did not glibly point them to a brighter tomorrow but to an understanding that the ability to see the big picture could lift their eyes above the immediate pain, disappointment and challenge and thus transform their approach to that day and the days to come.
Paul too was not motivated by the moment and he did not allow himself to be limited by the highs or lows of any particular day. Speaking in defence of his life and ministry he declared, “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven.” (Acts 26:19)
It was this that kept the great man going. When abandoned, misunderstood, stoned, harassed and criticised, it was the fact that his eyes were fixed not on the blip but on the big picture.
Hope understands that the CAUSE is greater than the cost.
Speaking to the nation via a broadcast from London on 9th February 1941, Churchill said these words: ‘We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire. Neither the sudden shock of battle nor the long-drawn trials of vigilance and exertion will wear us down. Give us the tools, and we will finish the job.’ He was under no illusion that the cost of the cause would be light or easy. He knew rivers of blood would run from the altar of freedom, but he was driven by the knowledge that the alternative was not worth thinking about.
Paul knew something of the cost of the cause for which he lived. “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.” (Philippians 3:7-8) He believed so much in the cause that he was willing to pay any cost. A twentieth century missionary who paid for the cause with his blood put it this way: ‘He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.’ Hope is never stingy, never cheap. It is willing and able to pay any price.
Hope never lets opposition cloud OPPORTUNITY.
As London was being bombed to the ground in 1941, Churchill spoke these words: ‘Lift up your hearts. All will come right. Out of the depths of sorrow and sacrifice will be born again the glory of mankind.’ As I sit in the comfort of modern Britain, it is hard to imagine a day when bombs were dropping from the sky and the threat of invasion was a very real possibility. Yet that was the context when Churchill spoke these words. Through them he sought to inspire his government and the nation to see beyond the opposition and see the opportunity.
In moments of great opposition, Paul too was able to see opportunity. When facing trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, danger or death, he confidently proclaimed:
“In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that… nothing… will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:37-39) As opposition knocks hope refuses to allow opportunity to be lost.
Hope knows that STANDING TOGETHER is better than standing alone.
It is remarkable that when addressing the nation at war, Churchill rarely used the word ‘I’ when referring to the tasks ahead. He speaks of ‘us’, ‘our’, ‘we.’ He knew the power of the together. Speaking to America via a broadcast on 16th June 1941, he said, ‘United, we can save and guide the world.’ Later that same year addressing the Canadian people he said, ‘We have suffered together and we shall conquer together.’ He knew victory could not be achieved by standing alone.
Many get the impression that Paul was a loner, out in the wilds of the Gentile world reaching people for Jesus. However, a glance at the text reveals exactly the opposite. Paul worked in team with people like Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, Luke and Titus to name but a few. He understood that if the dream was to move from the drawing board to reality, he could not do it alone. Hope empowers us to believe in others and inspires others to believe in us.
As the war was drawing to a fierce and bloody conclusion, Churchill spoke these powerful and almost prophetic words: ‘It is always in the last lap that races are either gained or lost. The effort must be forthcoming. This is no moment to slacken.’ You heard him. Don’t slacken – FINISH!! One day you and I will die, but hope urges us to make a courageous and uncompromising determination that we live well until that moment. I dare you - show the world there is such a thing as hope by living well and staying alive until you die!
See you at the finish line.
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