An Object Lesson on Hope

What comes to mind when you think about hope? Usually we think of the term hope in relation to something negative in our lives which we would like changed. Thus our hope lies in an exchange of the negatives to something more positive.

However, what is the object of our hope? One way to answer this question is by asking another one. But first, think of something negative in your life and the subsequent positive that is the object of your hope, it could be a bad marriage, a troubled child, a health issue, a financial crisis. In response to these negatives, often times our hope lies with something positive in exchange for those negative aspects of our lives. So, for instance, in exchange for a bad marriage, our hope can lie with a new and improved marriage.

Now ask yourself this question, "Do I hope for something" or "Do I hope in someone?" How we answer that question can identify what is the object of our hope. If we hope for something, then our hope is in some "thing" in the future. However, if we hope in someone, our hope is in some "One."

What is the big deal? The big deal is that when we hope for some "thing", that thing we hope for is what we can end up worshipping; and that future "thing" we hope for can become an idol. Furthermore, that future thing we hope for, which may serve as an idol, will never provide lasting satisfaction. Whereas, if we hope in someone, that being Jesus, then we end up worshipping Christ alone. Furthermore, when we hope in someone, Christ, we have a hope that is certain and present, not just something in the future to experience. Because Christ is alive and dwells within us, he is our living, present hope who can change our negatives into positives simply by his presence in us.

Lastly, whether we hope "for something" or "in someone" will identify the one for whom we live our lives. In other words, if we live "for something," we may certainly pray to God, but we are seeking God for our own good above God's own glory. We may sincerely want God's glory, but only as secondary to our good being experienced. So, God becomes our Santa Claus who delivers gifts to us and for us. Yet, scripture tells us we are created by Christ and for Christ.

However, when we hope "in someone," we are seeking God first and God's glory in the midst of our negative circumstances. When we hope "in someone," we are declaring to ourselves and all who witness us, that God's goodness and gracious presence is greater than my negative circumstances. We declare that no matter what our circumstances, we will hope in Christ. As we hope in Christ instead of hoping for some imagined and improved circumstances, we declare what the Psalmist said, "The steadfast love of the Lord is better than life." This is why we hope in a Person. Moses illustrated this well when he said to God, if your presence does not go with us into the promised land, then there is no sense in going at all. Can we say in our own hearts and to Christ, "Your presence is more preferred than the promised future I desire."

This Christmas may we blend hope into our holidays by laying our idols of imagined and preferred futures on the altar, surrender them to Christ and find our hope in Christ alone.

Beams Away!