Text: Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out with our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Romans 5:5 – NAS)
“I’d rather not celebrate Christmas this year,” the hallow-eyed young woman stared at the snow at her feet. “I just don’t see the point in celebrating, without my family.” One swift moment on an icy road had left her without a husband and children. Sorrow had frozen her heart, but the despair had crushed her hope.
Her story is only one amidst many this holiday season. Life has frowned on many during this year and hope has been shattered for many. Just weeks ago we watched as three large jumbo jets were flown into building killing close to 6,000 people. Records show that this year alone, close to 15,000 people were killed from random acts of violence or murder. The stories, the facts the figures could go on for days or month, but never would all the stories be told of how hope has been crushed, mangled, broken & shattered for so many.
Hope is crushed yet we hear these words from Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:13, “ and now these three remain: faith, hope and love.” Here we find HOPE included in as one of the ever-enduring gifts that God gives us for daily living. This is not some Christmas wish list (though those are fun sometimes) it is the real living vision of what the future can be for those who HOPE on Jesus Christ.
Old Testament visionaries longed for the day that the strong kingdom in God’s name would be established. They ached for the promised Messiah who would deliver their people from the shame and pain that years of captivity and outside rule had forced upon them.
For many in the Old Testament and even some today their hope, the heart’s greatest longing is never realized in their life time. To some it would seem that they wasted their efforts.
So why hope? Why take the chance of dreaming about things that may never come to pass? Why make yourself that vulnerable? Why again open yourself to be hurt?
Listen again to these familiar words from Hebrews chapter 11 verse 1. “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hear again these words, “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
I believe that the writer of the Hebrews is expressing one thing that we need to hear clearly again. We can HOPE in the midst of life’s circumstances because the one that we HOPE in is greater than the sum of life’s circumstances. If our, “hope is built on nothing less that Jesus blood and righteousness” as the wonderful old hymn goes then we have great HOPE. We have mush to open ourselves for. We have much to HOPE on. We have a great God to HOPE on.
If the one we HOPE in is the one who cared this world with His hands… If the one that breathed the very breath of life into you and me is the one that we have placed our HOPE in, then these words from the writer of the Hebrews are right on, “Let us hold unswervingly to the HOPE we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” (Hebrews 10:23) For the LORD promised, “ I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5)
I am reminded of the story that Jesus told in Luke chapter six. The story is told of a foolish man who built his house upon the sand, and when the storms of life came against it, it quickly came crashing down and was washed away. Then Jesus tells us about the wise man. The scriptures say that the wise man built his house upon a rock, a firm foundation, a secure footing, and when the winds beat against it the house stood…and when the rains came against is the house stood still…and when the flood waters began to rise the house stood…and when the storm with all her furry came against the house, the house still stood!!! Why? Because the house was built on a firm foundation.
Folks we are that house! I ask you, have you built your life on the ROCK of CHRIST JESUS or some sandy, weak foundation you have managed to make?
Do you want to stand with confidence when all of life is against you? Do you still want to HOPE when all is going wrong? Then build yourself a foundation based on the ONE that is above the circumstances of your life and mine!!!
I submit to you again. “Our HOPE is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness, I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on JESUS NAME. On CHRIST the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand, all other ground is sinking sand.” Do you lean on Him? Do you trust Him in all of life’s circumstances? Is your HOPE built in Him?
If so rest in the arms of an ever-loving God that took on the form of man to love us so greatly. He left his heavenly thrown and became a baby, a Savior, a HOPE for many, almost 2000 years ago.
If not I hope that soon you will find yourself, becoming a man or woman of HOPE in our Savior, Jesus Christ.
For now we stand again this year, as we have many years before on the brink of Christmas, waiting with Mary and Joseph on the baby God has promised will be the Savior of the world. As we relive, the love our God gives through the beautiful baby’s birth, we can once again put our hope in that baby to be our Savior.
I am reminded of His promise that he gave after his death and resurrection. We find it in John chapter 14 verse 3, it says “And if I go and prepare a place for you I will come back and take you with me, so that where I am you may also be.”
For this year may Christ become OUR NEW HOPE!!!
Let me close with a wonderful poem by Glenn Porter of Santa Barbara, California, it is entitled Hope, Is an Empty Grave.
Hope, Is an Empty Grave
A sound, a rustling sound,
feet trample ground, a man comes bound
A cross He drags. His clothes are rags,
His eyes so sad. He must be bad.
Words flying, Children crying,
women sighing, men dividing,
People gawking, soldiers mocking,
peasants flocking, the sight is shocking.
Questions asked, were you with Him,
the cock crows thrice, a soul grows dim,
The King of Jews or king of fools,
all ripped away by tortures tools
The crowd goes by, dust starts to fly,
I see His eyes, begin to cry,
Off until, they all stand still,
the hammers ring, upon the hill
His body slashed, the bloody brow,
If Ye be God, what say Ye now?
Forgive them Father, their sin be mine,
I show My love by painful dying
Bitter herbs, foul taste wells up,
breathing screaming, the soul gives up,
The soldier jabs Him in the side,
"Oh my," he says, "twas God that died."
Women weeping, cave so dark,
they drag Him in from off the cart,
The skies grow dark, the curtain rips,
the deed is done, our limbs grow limp
Our faith is lost, we all believed,
the Savior died upon that tree,
A boulder seals His place of rest,
He died in vain, He failed the test.
No WAIT!
The women come, they say they’ve seen,
an empty tomb, and thunder scream,
The tomb is empty, the stones rolled ’way,
WE have new HOPE in His Empty Grave.
He died so that we all might live,
gave the greatest gift that was His to give.
There is no death to those who see,
the Hope of Jesus on that Tree.
