Hope Of Maria

HOPE OF MARIA

Hope weans God’s people from seeking and trusting this world.

The story is told of Maria. She lived in a small town in southern Kentucky. She did not see or hear from her husband for years. Edward was assigned to the 2nd Infantry Division during the Korean war and captured when the Chinese overpowered their positions in North Korea in February 1951.

Maria remembers very vividly the day the military officers visited her home. She knew what this meant, and tears were flowing before they ever made it to the front porch. Edgar could not be accounted for; he was missing in action and presumed to be a prisoner of war. But Maria held out hope, even though she knew the chances of his survival were grim.

As the war dragged on, she felt grief at times. But she never gave up and never even considered moving on with life and living as if Edward was dead. No, she remained steadfast, faithful and hopeful for two long agonizing years.

Then, in 1953 without warning, the officers showed up on her doorstep again. But there was something different this time … there was a spring in their step. Maria could sense this was joyful news! And, sure enough, she was told that Edward was alive. He was part of a prisoner exchange in Panmunjom. He was on his way to Walter Reed Hospital for some treatment and nourishment, and then he would be returning home!

In a similar way, hope gives us the incentive to remain faithful and pure knowing that there will be a reunion with our loving Lord.

1 John 3:2-3 says, "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure."