I have hope…because it’s not about me!

2 Timothy 1:9-12a
“who saved us and called us to a holy calling not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher, which is why I suffer.”

Last night my wife asked me how I was doing…not in light of work, or world crisis, but in light of my Calgary Flames. Yup, I’m a Flames fan, and so, like many other Flames fans, I am left wondering why our team, which was just beat in the first round of Stanly Cup play-offs, and in one minute completely dominate most teams, and then in the next, play like they belong in my recreation hockey league…especially with the talent they have, talent that has proved itself in the past (Todd Bertuzzi) but seem to be struggling in the present. My response? It’s been so long for so long, so so long! (You may need to read that over more than once!).

Wow, I’m glad Christ doesn’t work with me that way. Paul continues to speak to Timothy about the work of Christ in His life, both his work in the past and his in the future. Paul is clear, that Christ saved Timothy (past) and has called Timothy (future). This is huge. I think so often we phrase our journey with Christ primarily as a moment in the past (when did you get saved?). But salvation is so much more than a moment, it is an eternity…which begins here on earth! But here is the amazing part, Timothy’s response both in the past, and in the future has very little to do with his abilities or his production (Paul’s words are that it has nothing to do with his works), but everything to do with Christ’s plan (purpose) and power (grace). How great is this! We have not been called because we are good enough. We are not secured because we are good enough. It is not about us, it is about Him!!!! Our world is out of control right now, but hope is not in our hands, it is in Christ’s hands! This does not mean that we do not engage the journey…absolutely not. Paul said clearly in Philippians 2 that we are to “work out our salvation with fear and trembling…” but it does mean that we must acknowledge the fact that our ability to engage, our desire to engage, our awareness of our need to engage, comes directly from Christ (Philippians goes on to say, “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.” God’s grace makes us able to fight, to engage, but it is God’s grace! Paul goes on to say that His purpse and grace, which began before time, for Timothy and for those who are His followers, has been manifested, activated, seen, engaged, (my new favorite word!) in Christ’s work on the cross. There is absolutely nothing more precious than Christ’s work on the cross. Everything hinges there. If the cross were not real, Paul is a liar (He says so in 1 Corinthians 15. But the cross is real, Paul is not a liar. We have hope. This is worth suffering for.