While we do hope for short term things as we say something like, "I hope you have a good day tomorrow," most of our hope is focused more on the long term. Our hope carries us beyond today, beyond tomorrow, into some distant point in the future. Usually, the object of our hope is on some unseen thing which is also the reminder of the Word. "...Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But, if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." (Romans 8:24)
For those who seek to enter into the moods of Advent, hope is not a strange thought to ponder. Long centuries ago there was much hope among the Hebrew people for someone to come and deliver them from those who oppressed them. There was hope that the kingdom would once again be restored. Of course, many failed to understand that the coming of Jesus was the fulfillment of that hope. As we stand on the other side of that watershed event in human history, our hope is not for the Christ born in Bethlehem, but for the Christ who will come again to bring humanity to its senses and restore the Kingdom order on the earth.
And, in the midst of this hope for the Kingdom to come is our hope for a day when things like the struggles of suffering, the tears of grief, and the darkness of death will no longer shadow our living. We hope not just for a better day tomorrow, but we hope that Christ will indeed come in the midst of those things which overwhelm us to bring us through them to the abundant life He promised. The reality is that He is in the present moment working to accomplish this end. Our eyes may not see what He is doing in this present moment, but our heart continues to hope for that day to come soon. Come, quickly, Lord Jesus.
For those who seek to enter into the moods of Advent, hope is not a strange thought to ponder. Long centuries ago there was much hope among the Hebrew people for someone to come and deliver them from those who oppressed them. There was hope that the kingdom would once again be restored. Of course, many failed to understand that the coming of Jesus was the fulfillment of that hope. As we stand on the other side of that watershed event in human history, our hope is not for the Christ born in Bethlehem, but for the Christ who will come again to bring humanity to its senses and restore the Kingdom order on the earth.
And, in the midst of this hope for the Kingdom to come is our hope for a day when things like the struggles of suffering, the tears of grief, and the darkness of death will no longer shadow our living. We hope not just for a better day tomorrow, but we hope that Christ will indeed come in the midst of those things which overwhelm us to bring us through them to the abundant life He promised. The reality is that He is in the present moment working to accomplish this end. Our eyes may not see what He is doing in this present moment, but our heart continues to hope for that day to come soon. Come, quickly, Lord Jesus.
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