Monday, November 30, 2020
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
Is There Any Hope?
It is the Advent season again. Advent season is all about the
anticipation and the waiting for the coming of Christ. Every year, it seems the world is more and
more absent of hope, but this year our world, believers and unbelievers alike,
need hope more than anything else.
What is it that makes you feel hopeful? I believe all of us are hoping for much this year. We are hoping that COVID will go away. We are hoping that no one we love will get it and have devastating and lasting affects from it. We are hoping that 2021 will not be worse, but hopefully better! We are hoping for world peace. Sometimes for me, I feel hope when I think I have solved my problems, but then I realize that I cannot and hope is gone. If we look to ourselves, we see our failures and unworthiness, so trying to find hope in our own power will always be a dead end. Looking for hope in the only place real hope can be found, in Jesus Christ, is the only way.
Christmas, and especially the true meaning of Christmas, can quickly be
eclipsed by our circumstances any year, but especially a year like this one.
Our circumstances can steal our hope faster than anything, and nothing has been normal about any of our circumstances this year. No matter what we
know in our hearts and minds, the weight of circumstances can snuff
the hope right out of our lives.
When we look around us- online, on T.V., on social media - we see only false hope. People you don't even know and who don't care about you at all will promise you the moon, if you sign up - and pay - for their products or program. False hope in something or someone other than the One who can truly change your life will lead to disappointment. (I know there are some good products and programs that change people's lives, but there are many scams out there as well) If your soul is sick and despair is eating you up, spending more money on things that won't heal you spiritually is a waste. As Christians, we know that Jesus Christ is the only hope that can overcome
this world and any circumstances of living in this world. If we look to this world, we
find the lies of false hope, and expectations we can never meet. When we look to
Christ, we see the only hope there is for any of us. Jesus came and brought Hope for all. He brought hope to a world wrought with
disease, violence, unrest and turmoil, uncertainty; and most of all, He brought
the hope of salvation from our sin. He
took upon Himself all our unrighteousness so that we may become righteous and
He died the death we deserve.
There is hope. There is hope for the lowliest sinner that has never darkened the door of church, and the sinner that sits in the pew every week and is at Bible study on Wednesday. There is hope for (as Jackie Hill Perry would say...) the Saints and Aints. There is hope on the darkest days and in the most painful corners of life. There is always hope, no matter how hopeless it all looks, because Jesus loves us all and died for each and every one of us. When we experience this hope it is our job to spread it to everyone so that they too can know the freedom found in hope of Jesus Christ.
As the scripture above says He became flesh and dwelt among us,... and He is full of grace and truth. This grace and truth is where hope is found. His grace is for all of us and His truth is not false like the truth we find in all the wrong places. His truth is real, life-giving, hope-bringing truth. He brought hope for all in forgiveness, mercy and eternal life that can only be found in Him.
This week, as you reflect on the season of Advent, remember the grace, truth, and hope that the Baby in the manger brought. Share that hope with someone you know who needs the freedom that is only found in hope in Jesus Christ.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13
Lara Cook
