A Word of Hope
Yesterday a man I respect talked to me about his concerns for young people on college campuses. He was worried about what they believe. He spoke of their ignorance of what is right. Twice he emphasized his belief that knowledge is available to them, but they simply won’t dig in and find it out. His words, his face, his body language all told of his deep discouragement. This grandfather of young adults was obviously very concerned about the future.
As we conversed, encouragements came to mind:
First, each of those young adults our friend is concerned about is a person made in God’s image.
Second, each is a person God loves.
Third, Saul of Tarsus was ignorant of what is right when he headed out on the road to Damascus one day. Knowledge of Jesus was available to him. Others had learned it and had decided to follow Him. Paul could have done that, too, but he had not done so. Instead of learning and believing, he persecuted those who had decided to follow Jesus.
God intervened in the life of that Christian-murdering Pharisee from Tarsus. He can intervene in the life of any misguided person, including every college student on the most misguided college campus. Jesus died for each misguided person. If we only believe in what we can see around us and in the news, it is easy to despair. However, we believe in something we cannot see. We believe in the unseen God Who intervenes in the lives of individuals and in the history of the world—and in today’s current events.
Though you have not seen Him, you love Him,
and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him,
you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
1 Peter 1:8