The Audacity of Hope, I Peter 1:13-23
Introduction
When Honorius was emperor of Rome, about the year A.D. 400, the great Coliseum of Rome was often filled to overflowing with spectators.
These had come from far and near to view the state games. Part of the sport consisted of watching as human beings battled with wild beasts or against one another until one or the other was killed.
The assembled multitude made Roman holiday of such sport and found its highest delight in the death of a human being. It was on such a day when the vast crowd was watching the contest that a Syrian monk by the name of Telemachus stood up in the vast arena.
Telemachus was torn by the utter disregard for the value of human life and so he leaped into the arena in the midst of the gladiatorial show and cried out, “This thing is not right! This thing must stop!”
Because he was interfering with their pleasure, the authorities gave the command for Telemachus to be run through with a sword, which was done. Thus he died, but dying he kindled a flame in the hearts and consciences of thinking persons.
History records that because of this within a few months the gladiatorial combats began to decline and very shortly they passed from history. Why? Because one man dared to speak out for what was right.
Scripture
I Peter 1:13-23
Transition
This morning, let us consider the absolute boldness of genuine Christian Hope. Hope – very much like the word love – is such an overly and misused word that I fear it has lost any value and significance.
In hoping that it doesn’t rain or hoping that our ball team wins the game, have we have forgotten what hope even is? Have we traded boldness for mediocrity?
Have we traded the power of the Holy Spirit for the weakness of vain philosophies of men and empty rhetoric of dying, dry, and dead religion?
Are you filled with the audacious hope that comes from knowing God or does your hope consists of empty wishes, waiting to be fulfilled by the imaginary deities of our secular culture?
This morning I want to offer you a working definition of Hope. Hope is so much more than wishing on a star. It is so much more than cliché and empty promises.
“I wish I had a new car. I wish I were taller. I wish I would win the lottery.”
Genuine Christian Hope is bold – not passive. Authentic Christian Hope is daring. Hope is like fuel for courageous living.
Hope has little to do with the passive wishing for ordinary things and everything to do with radical faith-filled action.
Exposition
In today’s Scripture reading, the Apostle Peter admonishes us to prepare our minds for action and to fix our hope completely on the grace of God as it is revealed in the person of Christ Jesus.
Genuine Christian Hope is not a passive faith. Even Jesus admonishment to “turn the other cheek” is a call to the radical activity of forgiveness.
Consider for just a moment the kind of life that Jesus lived during His earthly ministry. Here are just a few of the things that did;
Jesus taught those in need of instruction, fed those who were hungry, healed the sick, defended the weak, consoled the oppressed, served humanity, won souls, was an intercessor on our behalf – to name but a few!
The Christian life is a life of action! Christianity is not a “pie in the sky, waiting for the sweet by and by” king of religion!
Genuine Christian Hope does not wait for tomorrow to see what may become of those in need. Authentic Christian Hope seeks opportunities to bring justice to those who suffer injustice.
Genuine Christian Hope is not a passive ingredient in the mix of life; it is the yeast that makes the bread rise! Hope – true Christ-like hope – is nothing short of the most powerful catalyst for change in a broken world.
Just a few days ago my wife and I were reading the news reports on the website of a well known cable news channel, as we often do. Both of our hearts broke as we read report after report of the terrible plight of children even here in our own land.
We read of child after child who had been abused, mistreated, and much worse.
What is wrong with the heart of a person who would harm a child? What is wrong with the world around us? Why do so many hurt so many others?
What is it that causes one to hate while another loves? What is it that causes one to trust while another despairs? What is the source of all of this?
Some blame poverty. Some blame unjust social systems which oppress the poor. Still others blame a lack of work ethic, while some simply blame fate or chance.
Perhaps these types of things do play a part. I am more inclined though, to blame sin-blackened selfish hearts which are in desperate need of Genuine Hope.
Hope is not vain wishing on a star, it is a radical gift of grace and few are those who find it. Jesus said, “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matthew 7:14 NASB)
I can not offer to you always a reason why but I can offer to you – plainly – a clear and purposed response to the injustice we find constantly around us.
Allow your heart to be filled with an audacious sort of Hope and open your eyes to all of the ways to express that hope that are everywhere around you.
It has been well said, “Let a good man do good deeds with the same zeal that the evil man does bad ones.”
The Apostle Peter goes on to tell us that we have not been born of a perishable seed but of an imperishable seed – that is the living and enduring Word of God.
God has called us to holiness, that is, He has called us to be like He is – separate from the corruption of this world.
Holiness means simply that we have been set apart for a purpose. That purpose is to glorify God. Is it enough to be a good person if that goodness is never expressed to another person? Is it enough to be separate but serve no purpose?
Conclusion
The famed American Pastor and Evangelist, Dwight L. Moody said, “Take courage. We walk in the wilderness today and in the Promised Land tomorrow.”
Our ultimate source of Genuine Christian Hope comes from knowing that what we see around us today is not all that there is. We look forward to the time of the return of our God and King.
This Advent Season we look forward to the coming of Christ with anticipation. What was it like for Mary and Joseph to anticipate the birth of Christ?
What emotions flooded them as they longed to see the baby that the Angel had promised to them – and to us? What hope that must have filled them? Did she even really know that she would give birth to the King of Kings?
Just as Mary and Joseph longed for the birth of their baby, we long for the return of our King. Joseph and Mary were not hopeful as a recreational fisherman hopes to catch a large fish!
They were filled with a radical sort of hope which is only known by those who have chosen to trust full in God and as a consequence live out drastically bold lives in the name of God.
What I have been talking about this morning has nothing to do with social change, political agendas, or any other program of human schemes.
What I am talking about is living a life of radical Christ-Like audacity. I assure you that you do not have to look very hard or for very long to find someone in your own life that is in need of the audacity of hope!
Start in your own heart, then your own family, then your own friends, then your own community. Eventually you will find that Genuine Christian Hope is not only incredibly bold; it is also incredibly contagious!
This Advent Season, as we look to the birth of our King, may you look for and fill your life with opportunities to live out the audacity of Genuine Christian Hope!
Amen.
Benediction: (Read Geoffrey Canada’s poem, "Take a Stand")
TAKE A STAND
Maybe before we didn’t know,
That Corey is afraid to go
To school, the store, to roller skate.
He cries a lot for a boy of eight.
But now we know each day its true
That other girls and boys cry too.
They cry for us to lend a hand.
Time for us to take a stand.
And little Maria’s window screens
Keeps out flies and other things.
But she knows to duck her head,
When she prays each night ‘fore bed.
Because in the window comes some things
That shatter little children-dreams.
For some, the hourglass is out of sand.
Time for us to take a stand.
And Charlie’s deepest, secret wishes,
Is someone to smother him with kisses
And squeeze and hug him tight, so tight,
While he pretends to put up a fight.
Or at least someone to be at home,
Who misses him, he’s so alone.
Who allowed this child-forsaken land?
Look in the mirror and take a stand.
And on the Sabbath, when we pray,
To our God we often say,
“Oh Jesus, Mohammed, Abraham,
I come to better understand,
How to learn to love and give,
And live the life you taught to live.”
In faith we must join hand in hand.
Suffer the children? Take the stand!
And tonight, some child will go to bed,
No food, no place to lay their head.
No hand to hold, no lap to sit,
To give slobbery kisses, from slobbery lips.
So you and I we must succeed
In this crusade, this holy deed,
To say to the children in this land:
Have hope. We’re here. We take a stand!
Geoffrey Canada
February 14, 1996
