Redemption

Let’s think about the word “hope”—what does it mean? Some people hope it doesn’t rain, while others hope the rain comes soon. Some hope something goes away; others hope something shows up. Some people are hopeful. Some are hopeless. Some people find hope, while others lose it.

The pain we endure in life hurts. Sometimes, our journey takes us through times of devastation and discouragement. The loss of a job, illness, relationship breakups, an unrealized dream, and death are just some of the adversities that can bring about “sufferings of this present time.”

Simon the Sorcerer from Samaria. Say that five times fast! Simon would have loved to hear his name spoken fast or slow. “He boasted that he was someone great” and was known as the “Great Power of God” (Acts 8:9-11 NIV). Upon hearing the gospel, he made a profession of faith and was baptized. However, Simon’s actions caused questions about the genuineness of his conversion.

There is this problem with things—we will never have enough. The desire for possessions is like a mosquito bite. The more you scratch it, the more it itches (Eccl. 5:10). We get pleasure from possessions…for a brief time.