How can I be assured of unshakable Hope? Along with faith and love, hope is one of the big three abiding characteristics of Christian life. Without it, I would live in misery, incapable of persevering through harsh trials. With it, I live with certainty that I have everything to gain and nothing to lose.
Do you remember when your mother would light the birthday candles and tell you to make a wish? Then you would tear into your presents to see if what you wished for magically appeared. Sometimes your wish came true but sometimes it didn’t. Our wishes change over time and usually become less materialistic to include beautiful sunsets, waterfalls, exploration and adventure, and quality time with loved ones. We want those moments to go on forever. What if they could?
It is innate for our hearts to desire the Glory of God. Nothing else will satisfy. We occasionally get glimpses of this Glory that whet our appetite for what is to come. Consider the scent of the most beautiful flower, listening to the melodious sonnet of birds singing in the coolness of the morning, the satisfaction of a job well done, the thrill of winning a hard fought contest, and the pride you feel when your child succeeds at what they are gifted to do. All of these are but a taste of what God has in store for His children when Christ returns. Then we will not only see the Glory of God, we will bask in it. God’s Glory will shine brilliantly all around us and through us, much like it was in the Garden of Eden. Except we will be incapable of messing it up with sin. This is the Hope we have now of God’s certain future for His children.
The Long Awaited Messiah
This Hope is only made possible because the long awaited Messiah fulfilled His purpose toward mankind. God sent His Son, who was willing to set aside the privileges of His Deity to be born as a baby in a stable to parents of lowly means.1 He lived a sinless obedient life and humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death on a cross.2 He was born to die so we could live. And because He conquered death with His Resurrection, we have the Hope of joining Him in heaven forever.3
Live with Hope this Christmas
This Christmas season, living with Hope every day can be a reality. God made us a promise and sealed it by His Spirit indwelling us.4 God’s Spirit guides us into His presence where the Hope of Jesus Christ’s return is so fully anticipated, it’s guaranteed to happen. He came the first time to fulfill the promise as Messiah.5 When He returns, it will be better than the best birthday wish coming true. He will set up His Kingdom, and we will reign with Him forever.6
The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed
2 Why do the nations rage[a] and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break[b] them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Psalm 2 ESV
