Great Expectations!

" The people who get on in the world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and, if they can't find them, make them."
                                                                             George Bernard Shaw,  Great Expectations



     In Charles Dickens' thirteenth novel, Great Expectations, the author focuses on the life of the main character whose name is Philip Pirrip ( nicknamed Pip).  This orphan, named Pip, could only dream about rising above the humble station of life to which he had been assigned.  After an apprenticeship as a blacksmith, Pip was ultimately able to acquire wealth from an anonymous benefactor to become the gentleman that he desired to be.  His victory was short-lived, however, due to his final disillusionment when he discovers the source of his fortune.  Slowly, Pip realizes the vanity of his false values.

     While this novel is not an autobiography, there are some certain parallels between the life of Pip and the life of Charles Dickens.  When Dickens was only twelve years old, his father was sent away to a debtors prison.  Charles was relegated to work at a blacking factory- chained to a convict!

     Disappointments in love interests were also a commonality.  After Charles married Catherine, more unhappy secrets ensued as Dickens pursued an extramarital affair that ended badly.  After twenty-three years of marriage, Catherine divorced Charles. It was right after his unwanted divorce that Charles penned the words found in Great Expectations.

     Disillusionment probably prevailed as he wrote this novel.  The original ending of his book was so sad that he was counseled to re-write the ending.  Even so, he ended the story ambiguously.  The reader can never be certain if the story ended happily or not.

     A similar biblical story exists to illustrate the pursuit of worldly gain.  Known as the son of the "man after God's own heart", Solomon voraciously pursued both wealth and women.  In the end, he concludes, that if we don't serve God wholeheartedly, "All is futile... utterly futile."  (Ecclesiastes 12:8).

     These examples show us the futility of serving ourselves and our own interests.  They may bring to us a season of enjoyment but they will never fulfill our lives in the way God intended.  And, they will never bear the eternal fruit that will satiate later.  Eternity lasts much longer than our short temporal lives, so wisdom would point to that which is eternal.

     When we allow God to write the story of our lives,  God intends that every circumstance would have significance and relevance.  In fact, He weaves His gold thread of redemption through them all.  The things we prefer to ignore or run from will become the places of God's greatest glory if we allow Him to imprint them with His fingerprints.  Redemption never shines brighter than when God touches, heals, restores, and now bears His reflection.

     Our passions and desires are also gifts given to us from God when they are directed toward His glory.  If it is our own glory we seek, we will be found wanting.  However, when we passionately seek to advance His kingdom there are no limits to what God can and will do in our lives.

     The enemy of our souls wants to bring discouragement and disillusionment through these difficult places of our lives, but God's intent is always victory.  He is in control.  And, when we allow Him access to all, He will be victorious over all darkness and evil that would attempt to loom...

     Hope and faith conjoin to bring forth that victory!  The author of Hebrews tells us, " Now faith is the assurance of [things] hoped for, a conviction of things not seen."  ( Hebrews 11:1).  The Holy Spirit will lead our attitudes and the words we choose, if we allow Him to.

     Biblical hope is a joyful expectation and desire for something good in the future.  Hope is the reason we think our desires may be fulfilled.  It is waking up everyday expecting something good to happen.  It is not wishful or fanciful thinking and it is not finger-crossing.

     Our hope is a necessary part of our biblical faith, which is rooted in trust of our Heavenly Father.  It is a rational sense of certain expectation that is founded on truth.  This results in a knowing and conviction in the promises of God and in His character.  It is grounded in the truth of God's Word and the truth of who He is.  Faith is larger than hope because it is a conviction of those things that are not seen.  Faith is the full assurance of our hope.

     Hope does not waver because it is rooted in the faithfulness of God.  No matter what the circumstances may be, it is impossible for God's faithfulness to fluctuate.  The will and purposes of God are like iron, not chalk.

     Our biblical reality is that the worse our situations and circumstances become, the more likely we are to see God move on our behalf.  Historically, when there were famines, God provided for His people. When there were wars, God gave strategies and delivered His people.  It is not different for us today. We serve a living and active God who is very much involved in the lives of His people!

     Our God is also a "God of hope".  ( Romans 15:13).  Biblical hope has moral certainty because it is never based on what is possible with man.  In fact, it looks away from man and toward the promises of God.  The gospel of Mark tells us that " All things are possible to him who believes."  (Mark 9:23).

     The darker the world becomes, the brighter God will shine His light.  We are a generation uniquely positioned to have great impact.  To do that, we must have great expectations.  Because God is great, " let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith.  Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful."  ( Hebrews 10:22-23).

     Like Abraham, we will inherit God's promises if we do not waver.  The Bible tells us that " This is why Abraham's faith is 'reckoned to him as righteousness.'" ( Romans 4:22).  His faith was strongly confident in the reliability of God's Word; his hope was strongly confident in the fulfillment of God's promise.

     This time, beloved child of God, is not the time for disillusionment or discouragement.  This is the time for strong confidence in God's Word and in the fulfillment of His promises. This is the time to step out in faith and expect for God to meet you in that place.  This is the time for exceedingly great expectations!


                                                "Expect great things from God."
                                                  William Carey, known as "the father of modern missions"