Daily Lesson for January 2, 2015

Today's daily lesson comes from Hebrews chapter 11 verses 1 through 3:

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 2 For by it the people of old received their commendation. 3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible."

I once heard Desmond Tutu give a talk and say that he is not an optimist. That was surprising, but then he explained. The word "optimism" comes from the Greek word "optos" which means "to see".  It's the same root of he word "optic".  Optimism, Tutu explained, depends upon seeing. Optimists see the glass as half full. But sometimes we have to believe without seeing at all.  During the dark days of Apartheid, with pass laws restricting work, travel, and residence, black South Africans had nothing to be optimistic about.  But Tutu was not an optimist. Rather, he was a man of faith - which is the conviction of things hoped for yet not see.  Tutu had faith that though he could not see it, what he was hoping for in South Africa really could happen -- his beloved country could be changed.

It is a new year; and we really shouldn't be so optimistic about it!  We should go beyond optimism -- beyond what we can merely see.  For the best things God will do in 2015 can't be seen yet at all; they can only be faithfully hoped for. And the God who made what is seen out of what is not seen will make what we hope for by faith a visible reality also.