HOPE
Beloved Saints and Friends, we begin by thanking the Lord for bringing us full circle to another Advent Season. As you might be aware, each of the four weeks of Advent has a specific theme. This first week focuses on the theme of “Hope.” Specifically, ‘Finding hope in the midst of turmoil.’
The reality of most hope in our global space expresses no certainty, no absolute assurance that what is hoped for will materialize. And so to many persons, the concept of hope is a pipe dream. But Christian hope is no pipe dream and so I share briefly with you from 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, the Epistle for Advent 1B.
The world of Corinth was not unlike much of our world today. The new believers lived in a culture of corruption, immorality, and pagan religions, among other things. These conflicted with living out and nurturing their newfound faith in Jesus Christ.
In this brief introduction, Paul encourages the Corinthians to persevere in their hope and faith. Why?
- The grace that accompanies God’s free gift of salvation in Jesus Christ, allows all believers to live a life of free and open access to God (v.4-5)
- The forgiveness of their sins and the richness of the spiritual gifts that have been bestowed on believers serve to confirm Christ’s redeeming work in their lives.(v.6-7)
- The God, who has called believers into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful to His promises.
(v.8-9)
Like the believers in Corinth, we too live in national and global spaces of decadence that pose all sorts of temptations that could easily cause us to lose hope. Hope in our salvation and hope in God’s faithfulness. However, we must never forget that like the Corinthians, our salvation in Jesus Christ confers on us a righteous status and a life of free and open access to a faithful and loving God for whom nothing shall be impossible. Therefore we can hope in the midst of turmoil because Christian hope is a living and dynamic experience offered to us by our living God. Our hope is absolute confidence that Christ’s dominion is inviolable and that in spite of what is happening in our world, Christ is still in control. Our hope is not for personal gains or for improvements in the social, political, and moral conditions of our world. Rather, we hope for a new world, a new dispensation, new heavens and a new earth, a new life with Christ when we shall be given a new name and new garments. We hope for an end to sin, death, pain, diseases, suffering, violence, hunger, and all wars. Simply, we hope for God’s kingdom to come and God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
What can we do?
- We can begin with an attitude adjustment by separating ourselves from our old ways of sinfulness and from the decadence and seductions of the standards of our culture
- Live lives fully surrendered to God’s righteous rule and standards
Refugees and asylum seekers risk their lives to reach another country in the hope of a better life. How about us? In this Advent season, will we risk all for eternal life in the city with foundations whose architect and builder is God? I encourage all of us in this hope.
Let us pray using words from First Peter 1:3-4. ‘Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for us, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. Amen.
Have a blessed, holy, and contemplative Advent Season
Contributed by Rev. Annett Brown
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