The Hope Of Advent

The problem is that if you look at the world today and listen to all of the terrible things that are happening around us from burglaries to murders to even war itself, it can stalk out hope. It seems we wake up almost everyday to hear of another shooting or killing in the city. Turn on the news and it all seems to be bad news. And over time that can wear on us. In fact, it can steal our hope. But our hope for the future is instead rooted in God’s promises for the present. Lewis Smedes tells the story of a terminally ill young man who came in for his usual treatment. A new doctor who was on duty casually said to him, “You know, don't you, that you won’t live out the year.” As the young man left, he stopped by the Director’s desk and wept as he said, “That man took away my hope.” “I guess he did,” replied the Director, “Maybe it’s time to find a new one.” And then Lewis Smedes writes, “Is there a hope when hope is taken away?” Is there a hope when the situation is hopeless? That question leads us to Christian hope, for the Bible, hope is no longer a passion for the possible. It becomes a passion for the promise.”

The hope of Advent is based on three promises. First, God is enough. Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” God came to earth to live among us that we might know what He is truly like and to give us an example to follow. And while we were yet sinners, he died for us that we might know forgiveness and that which separates us from God might be removed. He rose from the dead that we might know we, who believe in Him, have the promise of eternal life. And he sent us the Holy Spirit to comfort us, strengthen us, guide us and be with us. And that means no matter what you’re facing, God and Jesus are enough. Pastor Norm Johnson tells the story of Bill who was gravely ill in the hospital. Norm was visiting him when the doctor came in and point blank said, “Bill, you're dead. There’s no hope. You’d better get your things in order.” Just that bluntly, no hope, no comfort, no, “How are you doing?” After answering a few questions, the doctor left. Norm and Bill just sat there in silence in shock over what they had heard. Then Norm turned to Bill and said, “Bill, don't you think now’s a good time to turn to Christ?” And there in the hospital room, Bill gave his life to Christ. The next day, Bill was moved to another hospital. A new doctor came in and said, “Bill, we’re not going to give up yet. We’re going to try a different medicine and a different therapy.” And from that moment on, Bill began to get better. He turned it all over to God and God healed him! And then he said, “When you have nothing left but God, then for the first time, you become aware that God is enough.”

Second, Advent promises the hope of forgiveness and new life in Christ. No matter what you’ve done or what you’ve said, because Jesus was born and then died on the cross, your sins are forgiven. And because of that, the opportunity for new life is given. Julian Silva tells the story of working in a Volunteer Corp’s Chaplain Office in Frankfurt, Germany where he met a German named, Carl Scholtz. During WW II, Carl served as a Nazi soldier but not believing in what he was doing, he tried to desert. He failed in his attempt, was captured and thrown into prison. Accused as a deserter, he was sentenced to die before a firing squad along with another man. When the day came, both were marched to the outskirts of town to be executed. But unbeknownst to Carl, the orders were for all the rifles to be turned to his colleague in the last minute, letting Carl live. When the rifles fired, Carl fell to the ground in shock. They picked him up and placed him back in prison. Months passed and when the war finally ended, he was set free. He didn't have any place to go so he wandered from one war torn village to another, sleeping in bombed out buildings and drinking more and more to numb the pain. His last hope was his mother but then he discovered that she was trapped in East Germany and then was shot trying to escape to the West. Upon hearing this news, he felt his last hope depart. He wandered to a nearby river with the intent to throw himself in to end his pain. As he was about to jump, he was stopped by singing which coming from a nearby wooden building. He heard: