Here is the dictionary definition:
Hopeless, miserable.
Are you a GM or Ford, or Chrysler employee? You might feel nearly hopeless, or forlorn. Are you a bank employee? You might feel nearly hopeless, or forlorn. Do you have a mortgage that the rate just went up? You might feel hopeless, or forlorn. If you are like many people these days, you're afraid of what today will bring, and you are likely more afraid of what tomorrow will bring.
You get my drift. There are a lot of people who at this moment, feel forlorn.
NASB) Lk 21:25 "There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth dismay among nations, in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, 26 men fainting from fear and the expectation of the things which are coming upon the world; for the powers of the heavens will be shaken. 27 "Then they will see The Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28 "But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
Things here on Earth are tough, that is true. Things were tough in the 20's. 30's. 40's. 50's. 60's. And so on... 1820's. 1830's. 1840's... and so on.
Things were tough in the 1920's, 30's, 40's and on until now, 2008. They will be tough in 2009, 2010, 2011, and so on... That is what it is, life. What makes us forlorn is the amount of hopelessness we allow ourselves to feel and internalize. Much of what we internalize, we externalize through our speech, to our friends, family, co-workers, neighbors. When we externalize we give food to the feeling, whether the feeling is an accurate rendering of reality or not.
As Christians, or followers of Yeshua, Jesus Christ the Messiah and Savior of those that acknowledge and accept Him as the ressurrected Savior; we are told in this verse of Jesus' Words - Stop worrying because there will be weather troubles, nation troubles, and floods but the Son of Man (Jesus) will come back for us in a cloud with power and great glory. What are we to do at that time (which could be this time)?
We are to straighten up, lift our heads up, because that same Savior is coming for us, and all will be well. Really, our worries are for nothing since we know how this story ends and we are going to live it...
Who SHOULD worry? Those that should worry are those that have never acknowledged Jesus Christ as the One who God sent to live sinless here on this difficult Earth for 33 years, be unjustly tried for crimes He did not commit, and die on a wooden cross only to gain victory over the grave as our Savior.... Those who have never repented of their sins, their wrongs, their "junk." It is hard to not worry in light of tremendous pressure on us from every side... However; we do have hope...
This Hope is more than just a catchy political slogan... This Hope is well-placed in Jesus Christ... Have you had a conversation with Jesus lately? Don't be forlorn, have that talk today...
