Second Friend Day - Elmer Towns

advancement. But those who are locked into a position with no chance of promotion get
discouraged. The hours drag. There is no hope.
The Christian is not concerned with "How long can I live?" His concern is "How well can
I live?" Hope makes the difference. The more hope you have, the more indifferent you become
to problems here below.
Jesus promised that He was preparing a place for us in heaven—that's hope—and that He
would come back to get us when we die—that's hope abundant. "Let not your heart be troubled: .
. . I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and
receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (Jn. 14:1-3). The martyr
testified, "I'd rather live short and die right than live long and die wrong."
2. You can hope because of Christ's presence in your heart. Jesus challenged His
disciples to "Abide in me and I in you" (Jn. 15:4). The presence of Christ in your heart can help
you to overcome anything. That makes life worth living. But more than His power in your heart,
you must place yourself in Him. Jesus challenged that we should abide in Him (Jn. 15:1-8).
That means reading His Word, fellowshipping with Him in prayer and obeying His
commandments.
Constant fellowship with Jesus Christ is the normal Christian life. We have lived
subnormal lives so long that mediocrity is normal. A man walking out of a smoke-fired night
club asked, "What's that I smell?" His friend replied, "Fresh air." He had become accustomed to
pollution and he was surprised by God's provision. In the same way, many Christians are
shocked to find that Christ can give them victory over sin.
You have a desire to succeed no matter what your definition of success is. Aim high, stir
up your hope and expect the best. It costs no more to shoot at eagles than skunks.
God wants His children to be successful. He told Joshua, "Be strong and of a good
courage: For unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land" (Josh. 1:6). The Lord
tied spiritual hope to subduing their enemies. “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy
mouth, but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to
all that is written therein; for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have
good success" (Josh. 1:8). God has no enjoyment when you fail or quit. He rejoices with every
success. Hope is enjoying the victory you will receive, worry is self-defeating; it usually
guarantees the exact thing you worry about.
A sixty-seven-year-old timekeeper at an assembly plant was so concerned that he would
be replaced by a younger man that his worry gave him an ulcer. When the foreman came by, he
childishly pampered the foreman, not getting himself job security but only irritating the boss.
Another elderly employee had such hope in Christ that he expected momentarily the
second coming. Since the Bible exhorts to be ready for the coming of Christ, he did the best job
possible. The company "bent its rules" so he wouldn't have to retire.