King Tut & Other Disappointments.

When I was younger my family and I were in Chicago, and we went to the Field Museum.  It is a really neat place to visit, and I highly recommend it.  But...

We went to see their King Tut exhibit.  It was a really extensive exhibition- there was a lot of Egyptian history, and ancient Egyptian artifacts; you even got to walk through a replica of a tomb!!  It all seemed to be building to the grand finale... King Tut's famous sarcophagus !  

And then.

We got to the end of the exhibit.

And.

There was no King Tut.

It was called the King Tut exhibit.  They used images of the sarcophagus for all the promotional stuff; the brochure, great big signs on the outside of the museum.  Everything pointed to the fact that King Tut would be there.

I was super disappointed when we got to the end, and found out he was still in Egypt.  

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One of my favorite shows is the Office (the first few seasons, anyway).  In one episode Michael gets gum in his hair... here is his explanation:

I was walking in and I saw something shiny under Stanley's car.  And I got under Stanley's car.  I got under to see what it was, and I messed up my hair.  All for a stupid piece of tinfoil.

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This world promises us shiny, exciting things.  King Tuts and surprises under cars.

And this world is full of disappointments.  No King Tuts and stupid pieces of tinfoil.

Maybe you are feeling disappointed today...

... You were promised a sparkling career, and you find yourself in a dead-end job.

... You were promised that she would love you forever, and now you are alone.

... You expected someone to come home for the holidays, but they've changed their plans.  

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In a world full of let-downs, there is one thing that will never disappoint us... 

Romans 5:5 tells us that 

hope does not disappoint.

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I am not saying that we will never feel disappointed by God.

Anyone who has spent time praying for a sick loved-one, only to have them pass away, knows what it feels like to be disappointed by God.

Anyone who has prayed for an unbelieving family member, only to be rebuffed by them again, knows what it feels like to be disappointed by God.

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But, rather, the hope we have of eternal life will not disappoint.

When we face disappointments in this world, we can know this is not the end.

We will not be disappointed.  

This hope that we cling to, will not let us down.

We will not be disappointed.  

When we reach the end of this life, and make our way into eternity?

We will not be disappointed.