Abound in Hope

By Hal Brady
 
The apostle Paul, in his letter to the Romans, might have believed that “hope should abound” (Romans 15:13). But we are not quite so sure, are we? In times like these, “abound in hope”? Almost every newscast reminds us of the many dreary problems we face in the world today. Justice, for many, continues to be an elusive quality. People are angrier than ever. Wars continue. Crime is out of control. Drugs are destroying lives. The economy is shaky. Terrorism threatens. Family life is breaking down. Depression characterizes too many. And the list could go on.  
 
The point is that it is very difficult to have hope in a world like this. However, it is our world - our responsibility - and we had better not forget it. It behooves all of us during this Advent/Christmas season to hear a fresh word of hope. Having mentioned the importance of hope, I want to say a few words about it.

First, sometimes hope is hard to come by! In the movie “Finding Nemo,” Nemo has been kidnapped. His father Marlin and his sidekick Dory have gone in search for him. At this point Marlin and Dory have been swallowed up by a whale. As I said, sometimes hope is hard to come by. Truthfully, having hope for anything is seldom easy. There are times in the lives of individuals and nations where there seems to be little or no hope. Who would ever have guessed that the Berlin Wall, which stood so imposingly mighty, would come down in our lifetime? On a personal level, what man or woman diagnosed with a deadly form of cancer would have thought that he/she could be a 5 or 10 or even 15-year survivor of that dreadful disease?

Second, there’s power in hope! A well-known minister was visiting in South Africa several years ago. He said he couldn’t help himself, and he had to ask the question. He had listened to stories people told in the crowded flats of Johannesburg, in the squatter settlements outside of Cape Town, and in a Methodist pastor’s home in Soweto. He said he had sensed in a tiny measure the fear and suffering these brothers and sisters in Christ had faced in the struggle for freedom in South Africa. He saw how these very ordinary people had confronted the entrenched evil of apartheid in an absolutely extraordinary way. They had every reason to feel discouraged and defeated. But to be with them was to experience inescapable, contagious joy! Finally, he asked the question: “What keeps you going?  How can you be so joyful?” With amazing consistency, they responded with one word: hope. What is hope? One definition is “to expect with confidence.”

Third, hope is based on the contemplation of God’s Promises and victory! The church exposes us to Advent to remind us of God’s promises and that God keeps His promises. As Jeremiah prophesied, “A righteous branch will spring up for David and he shall execute justice and righteousness” (33:15). God keeps God’s promises in Christ. What kind of world was it that Christ first came to? Do you remember? Sure you do!  It was a dark world, a barren world, a scary world, a hopeless world. A heartless Roman government oppressed the people. There was great agony and bewilderment and suffering. And then suddenly He came; God himself came in the form of the tiny babe of Bethlehem. At last, hope! 
 
Dr. Hal Brady is a retired pastor who continues to present the Good News of Jesus Christ and offer encouragement in a fresh and vital way though Hal Brady Ministries (halbradyministries.com).