Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure on the mountain of Samaria, the notable men of the first of the nations, to whom the house of Israel comes! (Amos 6:1, ESV)
I always thought Florida would be a great place to live. I have never lived in a place that does not experience snow. And I am definitely not a fan of the snow and cold. How great that would be to be done with the snow!
But this last week we saw that it’s not all that great in paradise. Massive devastation was brought upon many places in Florida along with many other tropical paradises. Maybe it is not all it is cracked up to be.
Sometimes we come down with the “if only” syndrome. We think “if only” I lived in this certain place (like Florida). Or “if only” I had this person in my life. Or “if only” I got this job. Or “if only” I had a little more money. Or “if only” I lost a little more weight. But none of these things bring fulfillment in a lasting way.
When we put our hope, our security, our contentment in the things of this world we will be let down and discouraged. Sometimes devastated! The Scripture verse above warns the people of Jerusalem and Samaria for finding their security in their geography. There is a name for this. It is called false hope.
Any hope other than Jesus is false hope. Jesus is the one true hope. There is nothing else that compares.
Reflection
- Where do you have false hope in your life?
- How do keep Jesus as the source of your contentment?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, you are my everything. You are my all in all. Yet, too often put my hope in things which only let me down. But I know you are the only thing in which to hope. You are contentment. You are peace. You are joy. Amen.
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