“There’s a sucker born every minute.” This phrase is generally credited to P.T. Barmum (1810-1891), an American showman. It’s normally taken to mean there are (and always will be) a lot of gullible people in the world. Christians are constantly warned in scriptures of being deceived. Yet, in spite of this, many are willing to swallow poisonous teaching if some portion of the Bible is an additive in the mixture. I’d remind our naïve friends that the devil can quote the scriptures (Matt.4: 5-6).
Let me site an example of the above. In a recent article in Newsmax, a tel-evangelist and his preacher wife, who preach the Health and Wealth gospel, was interviewed concerning today’s dire economy. During the discussion he made this statement, “You can’t have faith if you don’t first have hope.” Now a person wouldn’t have to have a thimble full of Bible knowledge to see through such a asinine statement as this. The apostle Paul, during a dreadful time said, “I believe God.” But this was said only after it was recorded, “When all hope was taken away.”
Faith brings hope, not the opposite. We are told of Abraham, “Who against hope believed in hope.” When there is no hope that is when faith creates it. “Without faith it is impossible to please God.” It does not say, “without hope.” Nothing comes before faith other than the object you’re trusting in. And that is not hope, THAT IS GOD!
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