Day 21 - False Hope

Child of Hope: An Advent Devotional

Saturday, December 20, 2008

False Hope


He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me; I’ll always be happy and never have trouble.”
Psalm 10:6

Snake oil still sells well, even though it’s only colored water with no curative powers whatsoever. We still fall for the confidence trickster. In a way, we’re happy to do so. When he promises that his cure-all will get rid of everything from bad breath to bunions we want to believe him. When we are struggling to stop smoking or to lose weight, he gives us hope. It may not last long. In our hearts we recognize that his patent potion is not going to work; but we still buy it.

The trouble with false hope is that it prevents us from dealing with what really needs to be done. If a habit is killing us we don’t need another useless panacea, we need to quit the habit. Self-deception is fairly harmless most of the time, in fact it’s one of the things that helps us to cope; but when self-deception becomes neglect then it can turn deadly. Snake oil won’t cure gangrene. False hope won’t cure sin.

Scripture deals harshly with those who peddle snake oil. Psalm 10 tells us that they are their own worst victims. Not only do they prey upon others, they also end up believing their own nonsense. They look for security where none is to be found. They think they are immune from the cares of the world. Nothing can touch them. They will “always be happy and never have trouble.” Not so, says Proverbs 10:28, “the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.” Snake oil has zero value. False hopes are worth about the same.

In contrast, those whose hopes are grounded in God may endure suffering for the moment, but their eternities are secure in Christ. The same verse in Proverbs tells us that “the prospect of the righteous is joy.” We rejoice when we know the security of a right relationship with God, when our sins are forgiven, when we know ourselves to be at peace. Christ is the only cure. Snake oil is no substitute for the Savior.

Prayer for the Day
Lord Christ,
keep us from the fear that paralyses;
don’t let us be deceived.
Instead, come with all Your healing powers
to cure our ills and make us whole again.
For Your love’s sake.
Amen.