My Hope in the Day of Evil

(Jeremiah 17:1-17)

It is interesting that Jeremiah would pen these verses as he was the writer of the prophesy concerning Israel going into captivity for 70 years. Now I am not sure of the exact future regarding the United States of America but I would have to say we are definitely living in what a day of evil. With this said it is imperative that we have hope, but as we will see in this sermon our hope must be in the right person and have a solid foundation if it is to come to pass.

A Definition of Hope:

Hope – A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable. hope differs from wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it. hope therefore always gives pleasure or joy; whereas wish and desire may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety. [American Diction of the English Language, Noah Webster, 1828]

Note his comments on the belief of hope being obtainable and how that differs from a wish or desire.

It is also interesting that Jeremiah penned a result of people having no hope (Jeremiah 18:12). It describes people in America today.

The Difference of Being Blessed or Cursed:

According to the passage the deference is a man’s hope (Jeremiah 17:5-7). Note that a warning of trusting your own heart follows these verses. With this in mind let us look at some things regarding a blessed hope.

The Hope of the Blessed:

1)  Is based upon the right person (1 Timothy 1:1)

• The only true hope that can be found in this world is in Jesus Christ. Note Hebrews 6:13-19 and Hebrews 7:19-25 for the difference between hoping in the law (religion) vs. Jesus.

2)  It is founded upon a solid foundation (Romans 15:4)

• God’s word is the truth for showing that Jesus is the only way of Salvation, therefore our trust must be founded upon it (Psalm 119:114,116)
• Now as a saved person we can lose hope from time to time especially when we stray from word of God. The solution is to remember our original hope (Lamentations 3:15-29)

3)  It will end victoriously in a Resurrection (Titus 2:13)

• Job 14:7-11 (man’s view) vs. 1 Corinthians 15:19-24 (God’s view based on Jesus)