The verb “hope” is defined by Merriam-Webster’s dictionary as “to want something to happen, or to be true.” For so many right now, it is the hope that tomorrow will be better than today that provides sufficient strength to persevere through a multitude of trials. There is hope that newly created vaccines will put an end to the death and suffering associated with Covid-19. There is a hope that we as a nation will overcome the division and work together to rid our country of mindsets, regulations and institutions that cause injustice and oppression. There is a hope that people will be able to participate in a growing economy that is equally available to all.
It makes sense that, when you are firmly entrenched in the world, you want the world to be comfortable and enjoyable. And if that is what you want and hope for, it is likely that you will spend your time and resources working towards that outcome. Jesus himself said in Matthew 6:21 “Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will be also.” We treasure our health and our wealth, and so our hope lies in maintaining them or improving them. Unfortunately, all of the things of this world are perishing, and ultimately if our hope lies in material things, we will be very disappointed.
But what if the point of these trials is to open our eyes and our hearts to the possibility that our hope is better placed in things that will not fade, that moths cannot eat, that rust cannot destroy, or that thieves cannot steal? What if we are so stiff-necked and stubborn that we needed a year like 2020 to get us to realize that the most important thing in this life is to restore our relationship with God, so that we can have an abundant, eternal life with our Creator in a perfect kingdom that will last forever? What if this all happened so that we would ultimately have a hope that does not disappoint?
Jesus said that he came so that we would have life, and have it abundantly. Our life with him transcends life in this material world, where all sorts of things can and will go wrong. With our hope in Jesus, even if tomorrow is so bad that our life ends, we will enjoy being in Paradise with Him where death has no hold. If you need the strength to persevere through the trials of today, simply recall the words of this beautiful hymn: “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow. Because He lives, all fear is gone. Because I know He holds the future, and life is worth the living just because He lives.”
In Him, I place my hope, and that is a hope that will not disappoint.
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron