‘Hope springs eternal‘ (An Essay On Man – Alexander Pope – 1734)
Do you remember times when you were young, and you had dreams about what life would hold for you, the challenges that you would face? Unfortunately, life does not always work out the way we would like it to.
Since the birth of time, when Adam and Eve were in the Garden of Eden with God, we have all had things to look forward to. Adam and Eve used to look forward to walking with God in the garden, ‘Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden’ (Genesis 3:8 NIV).
Much has changed since that time; sin entered the world, when Adam and Eve disobeyed God, (Genesis 3) and harmony with God ended, and we have been living in a broken world since then.
We have all, globally, lived through a very turbulent year, as many of them seem to be recently.
Early in the year, in February, an earthquake hit Papua New Guinea, affecting close to 16 percent of the population, that’s about half a million people, (https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/slideshows/10-of-the-deadliest-natural-disasters-in-2018?slide=3 – accessed 28/12/18). In July, in America, a female postal worker died, when record breaking temperatures were recorded during her working day, (https://www.mercurynews.com/2018/07/25/woodland-hills-mail-carrier-peggy-frank-touched-so-many-peoples-hearts-sister-says/ – accessed 28/12/18). In mid-September, hurricane Maria killed just over three thousand people, when it hit land in Dominica and Puerto Rico (https://www.google.com/search?q=hurricane+maria+facts&oq=hurricane+maria&aqs=chrome.0.69i59j69i57j69i60j0l3.4016j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 – accessed 28/12/18). Last month, (November) the wild fires in California, killed over eighty people, leaving over five-hundred people, or un-accounted for, (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46315029 – accessed 28/12/18), and the tsunami that hit Indonesia, days before Christmas (https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-12-28/the-five-most-deadly-natural-disasters-in-indonesia-this-year/10668480 – accessed 28/12/18).
Then we have all the killings, robberies, other violent acts, and terrorist threats etc to consider.
When we read this and listen to, or read, or watch the news, and hear or see all the evil that is happening throughout the world, can we really, truly live in hope?
The answer to this question, is a resounding yes, of course we can!
Less than seven days ago, globally, we celebrated the birth of hope, the wonderful birth of our Saviour and Redeemer, Jesus Christ.
Job questioned where his hope was, after losing everything that he had;
‘where then is my hope – who can see any hope for me’ (Job 17:15 NIV).
But with time passing, and us living in the present, we can say;
‘For in [this] hope we were saved’ (Romans 8:24 NIV).
We also know that everything that we have, is from God;
‘Everything comes from you’ (1 Chronicles 29:14 NIV).
In a letter he sent to the Israelite nation whilst they were in exile, Jeremiah told them what the Lord said about their return; and that when they did return, he would;
‘know the plans I have for you… … plans to prosper you’ (Jeremiah 29:11 NIV), and the Psalmist David wrote;
‘Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us’ (Psalm 40:5 NIV).
Not only does he plan things for us, but he is always there for us, Just as God told the Israelite nation (Deuteronomy 31:8), so the writer of Hebrews reminds us of what God said;
‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you’ (Hebrews 13:5 NIV).
When Paul wrote to the Roman Christians, he said to them;
‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope’ (Romans 15:13 NIV – emphasis mine).
So we are filled with hope, given from the God of hope, and because we have hope, we should;
‘Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever’ (Psalm 136:1 NIV).
And more than that, we can request from God;
‘that God would grant what [I] we hope for’ (Job 6:8 NIV).
And beyond everything else, we should remember, that, ‘Hope springs eternal’ (An Essay On Man – Alexander Pope – 1734)
Hear our cry, oh King of heaven
Jesus hope to every heart
We are lost without Your glory
We are lost without You God
Be the fire, that burns within us
Flames of love that purify
Send Your power and Your salvation,
Let us see Your Kingdom come
Only You can move the mountain
Only You can heal our land
Christ alone, our hope and glory
Christ alone in You we stand
Turn Your eyes and show us mercy
How we need Your Father’s love
Lead us home, and out of darkness,
With Your gospel, burning bright
We believe our God is mighty
We believe our God is here
We believe our King is coming
Christ alone in You we stand
Praise the Lord, our God is mighty
Praise the Lord, our God is here
Praise the Lord, our King is coming
Christ alone in You we stand
Hope and Glory (Pocketful of Faith #11)
T. Hughes / M. Smith / N. Herbert
Father we thank you for the hope that we have through your Son Jesus Christ. We thank you for sending him to live with us, to teach us, and to die in our place. Help us at this time of year to celebrate his birth, and the hope that it gives us.
Amen
Bobbles Stuff 