“Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.” Proverbs 13:12[i]
“And He said to them, ‘What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?’ And they stood still, looking sad. One of them, named Cleopas, answered and said to Him, ‘Are You the only one visiting Jerusalem and unaware of the things which have happened here in these days?’ And He said to them, ‘What things?’ And they said to Him, ‘The things about Jesus the Nazarene, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word in the sight of God and all the people, and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to the sentence of death, and crucified Him. But we were hoping that it was He who was going to redeem Israel. Indeed, besides all this, it is the third day since these things happened. But also some women among us amazed us. When they were at the tomb early in the morning, and did not find His body, they came, saying that they had also seen a vision of angels who said that He was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just exactly as the women also had said; but Him they did not see.’” Luke 24:17-24, NAS
“If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable. But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.” 1 Corinthians 15:19-20
“This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Hebrews 6:19-20
“Before we get to today’s interview, I want to say how profoundly saddened I am by the series of catastrophes, Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and now the mass shooting in Las Vegas. To everyone who is suffering, to everyone who has lost a loved one, or been injured, or lost their home, or their job, to everyone who is still in shock from being a witness, we are thinking of you, and hope you find whatever it is you need to carry on.” Terry Gross[ii]
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Ms Gross’ compassionate words express the shared unspoken longings currently of multitudes on our planet. In the face of ongoing wars, famines, natural disasters, and the steady ongoing march toward eternity of humans great and small – of every race, class, and socio-demographic – our hearts cry out for something or someone to give us hope. The only suitable response to this cri de coeur is found in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Hope In The Face Of Hopelessness
On the third day after His death, Christ’s disciples were perplexed and demoralized. In their minds, Messiah was both a political and spiritual Deliverer. How could He die as a cursed outcast on an ignominiously cruel Roman cross? Where now were their hopes and dreams of salvation? Life seemed at once hopeless and incomprehensible. In that moment of painful confusion, the Lord Himself drew near to remind them of all that the Scriptures prophesied concerning this mighty victor. In His words: “Ought not the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” (Luke 24:26.) In the wake of seeming tragedy, He pointed them to what Paul later called “the hope and resurrection of the dead” (Acts 23:6.) Hope for believers is not a vague wish that is hopeful of finding “whatever it is you need to carry on,” as Ms Gross phrases it (and many others in the world would agree with that amorphous sentiment.) The Christian hope is not merely for this world: it connects us with eternal life that emanates from beyond this sorrowful scene of pain and death. As Paul points out: “If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable” (1 Cor. 15:19.) To suffer for Christ in this world, and then have no resurrection or life after death would be a false hope of immense magnitude! But the next verse promises that through His resurrection Christ triumphed over death, and is the first in what will be a long line of physically and spiritually raised ones; the Captain of their salvation is bringing many sons to glory (Heb. 2:10.)
Comfort From Beyond The Grave
[iii]
The believer’s hope is focused on a person: The risen Christ! Our trust in Him is pictured as a “sure and steadfast” anchor, which is secured in the presence of the triune God Himself (Heb. 6:19.) As David Gooding eloquently writes: “What a hope Christians have! They have cast their anchor not in their fluctuating moods or feelings, or in their varying circumstances, or in anything else in this changing world. Christ himself as their precursor has taken their anchor right through into heaven itself and embedded it in the immovable ground of the presence and throne and character of God (6:19–20).”[iv]
We Have An Anchor That Keeps The Soul
One of my friends from the crew of the Sea Gem (pictured above) told me of the importance of a good anchor. He told me that formerly the ship had the wring anchor; consequently, they would wake up in the middle of the night drifting – a dangerous situation for a seagoing craft! Imagine if one tried to use an anchor from a much smaller boat (like the Boston Whaler pictured below) on a crawfishing ship like the Sea Gem. What would happen?
Clearly the smaller boat’s anchor would not do anything for the much larger vessel. Likewise, the rough seas of human life require a large anchor.
Only the hope provided by Christ, who died, rose from the grave, and ascended to glory can provide the unwavering assurance that is linked to God’s trustworthiness, justice, and holy love (Heb. 6:20.) Because the believer’s Forerunner, the Lord Jesus Christ has entered into the Father’s glorious presence, they shall certainly be there as well. As He said: “‘A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also’” (John 14:19.) Later He prayed: “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24.) This is a sure and steadfast hope by which to live!
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[i] Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are from the New King James Version of the Holy Bible (NKJV.) Words in boldface and italics are my emphases.
[ii] Terry Gross, Introductory remarks to the broadcast, “Tom Petty to ‘Fresh Air’: ‘The Songs Meant a Lot to People, and it Means a Lot to Me’,” 10/3/17, Fresh Air with Terry Gross; electronic ed. accessed on the same date here: http://www.npr.org/2017/10/03/555302003/tom-petty-to-fresh-air-the-songs-mean-a-lot-to-people-and-it-means-a-lot-to-me [Emphasis mine.]
[iii] Photo by K.R. Keyser, 10/1/17, Spanish Wells, Bahamas; all rights reserved. Special thanks to the crew of the Sea Gem.
[iv] David W. Gooding, An Unshakeable Kingdom: The Letter to the Hebrews for Today, Myrtlefield Expositions. (Coleraine, Northern Ireland: Myrtlefield House, 2013), 141. [Boldface mine.]
[v] Photo by K.R. Keyser, 10/1/17, Spanish Wells, Bahamas; all rights reserved.