I must admit, I am a podcast girl. I wake up each morning, looking forward to the moment that I can get into my car and listen. I have a specific podcast that I listen to each day of the work week. On Fridays, I listen to the Brotherly Love Podcast…or as the Lawrence brothers fondly say….THE-POD-DA-POD!!!
For times sake, I will abbreviate, TBLP, is a podcast, where 90’s superstars (and brothers), Joey, Matthew and Andy Lawrence, talk about life, talk with guest stars….and well…fight like brothers. I LOVE the banter AND the NOSTALGIA.
Matthew Lawrence, the teenage heart throb of the 1990’s, is very different than his on screen characters. on TBLP, Matthew shares with the world, his obsession with reptiles. If you listen to ANY episode, Matthew talks about science, animals (especially reptiles) and all things NERDY. ..ALL THE TIME. He also talks about God…which I LOVE.
A few Fridays ago, Matthew mentioned a study done on rats in the 1950’s. If you should want to look it up, it is referred to as the “Hope Study”.
I was intrigued.
Now- I must put a disclaimer out there! I, in no way, shape, or form, condone, praise or entertain, animal cruelty or unethical psychological experiments. Now that we have established that, I must admit, this study was fascinating.
I am going to recap the bare-bones of the experiment, saving those who read this, time and all of the horrific and unethical animal cruelty. An experiment was done on both domestic and feral rats during the 1950’s. These rats were placed in a jar of water and were watched to see how long they would/could swim. Researchers wanted to measure the rats will to live.
Both the domesticated and feral rats, lasted about 15 minutes treading water before they sunk. They were then “saved” and taken out of the jar. Once out, they were cared for, spoken to, and given rest. After a short break, the rats were placed back into the jar. This time, the rats were able to tread water for OVER 60 hours. Yes, I said HOURS, not minutes.
Why?
Hope.
These rats knew that they had been saved and would likely be saved again. They had hope that this would not be the end for them. So, they kept treading.
I hate that these poor, tiny, creatures were subjected to such abuse. However, what a study! I could not help but think of the things, that I, and these rats, have in common (besides a love for cheese, of course).
What an amazing hope that we have in JESUS. What a hope, that believers have, to know that this earthly life, is not the end of the road. Those who believe in Christ are assured that when that last breath is taken, that heaven is immediately home. FOR EVER. FOR ALL ETERNITY. You see, when a Christian dies…it is only just the beginning. A beautiful beginning. A beginning, where eternity is spent in paradise with the creator of all things.
,Through Jesus’ death and resurrection ….WE HAVE BEEN SAVED!!!! There is HOPE FOR US!
Knowing that I am saved, makes the hard stuff much easier. When I am in the trenches, treading water, I KNOW, Jesus has got me. It is NOT the end.
When things get bad, and more often than not, they will, I do not have to be afraid!
Jesus, you are my living hope.
& I pray that he is yours.
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3)
– A Pod-Da-Pod Fan and Sinner
The-Neuro-Divergent- Mom. 