The Good Scout

Because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of truth of the gospel – Colossians 1:5

A staple character of Westerns in both television shows, like “Wagon Train”, and movies was the scout. The scout was the man who knew his way, or could find his way through the wilderness. He had to be prudent, tough, trustworthy, wise, and, at times, daring. If you lost your scout, you might lose your way, and you were certainly traveling blind and deaf – a possibly fatal situation in hostile territory. Finding the fords and the good water holes, warning of possible ambushes and washed out trails, the scout rode the distant point and returned to describe the lay of the land ahead. A compass, the sun, or the stars would let the travelers find the right direction, but only with a scout could they find the right path.

The word ‘hope’ has been tainted of late by our progressive, collectivist “masters” who would use it as a goad to stir us to discontent, the better to herd us like cattle. The hope of secular progressives is inevitably a false hope. Just as we should beware of false prophets, false teachers, and false christs, we should beware of false hopes. Like an unreliable scout, hope not based on the truth will lead us on a path of destruction, even when we seem to be headed in the right direction.

[Aragorn said,] “… I cannot desert my friends while hope remains.”

“Hope does not remain,” said Éomer.

On the other hand, if we fail to trust the wisdom of hope derived from “the word of truth”, we might become discouraged and lose our way. Sometimes false hopes are a kind of inoculation the devil would give us that we might reject the report of genuine.

The water barrels are empty. The plodding teams are on their last legs. The tongues of the pilgrims are thick with thirst. Sweat is a forgotten luxury. Ahead dust is seen. The wagonmaster calls a halt. The dust resolves into a weary rider, the trusty scout. “Just four more miles, over that last ridge,” the scout reports, “there is a spring with plenty of good water.” The pilgrims look ahead. All they see is dust and rising ground. The crest of the ridge wavers in the heat-distorted air. It is a long and torturous climb. What if there is no water? What if the scout is colluding with the leader just to keep them going until they drop dead of thirst?

We have heard the gospel. God cares for us. He has made a way for us. Our lives are not a futile wandering in desert lands. We are not going around in circles. There is deliverance and abundant life on this path. Will we hear the voice of hope and follow on to know the Lord? Will we stay on the path of truth, or will we be deceived by a mirage and go off in our own direction?

This journey can be one of weariness and distress. Sometimes we find ourselves in despair, depressed and, if we are not careful, hopeless. The road gets so long and hard that we forget why we started out. Take the word of truth and follow hope. Our scout is faithful and will lead us home.