Are
you hoping for peace in our nation? Hoping for a vaccine or effective treatment
for COVID-19? Hoping for an end to world hunger, a workable answer to climate
change, or a cure for cancer?
What
are you hoping for? Are you hoping your car makes it through another winter? Hoping
your job doesn’t get cut? Hoping you or your babysitter doesn’t get sick?
Are
you hoping your marriage survives? Hoping your wayward son comes to his senses
and returns home? Hoping that your mom in the nursing home is getting the care
she needs?
Life
can be filled with headaches and heartaches, anguish and agony. Indeed, life
can be flat-out overwhelming. Maybe today you feel like you’re drowning in a
sea of despair. The waves of trouble seem unrelenting, and you have no where to
go, no one to turn to, and no hope in sight.
Friend,
I want you to know that in Jesus there is hope for better things yet to come.
“Nevertheless,
that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever…The people who walk in
darkness will see a great light. For those who live in the land of deep
darkness, a light will shine” (Isaiah 9:1-2).
The
people of Israel in the prophet Isaiah’s day had turned away from God and faced
the consequences of their rebellion – spiritual darkness, wandering, weariness,
and hunger. Yet even then, rather than humble themselves in repentance to the
Lord, they raged against God and cursed Him in defiance, which thrust them into
further darkness and distress.
But
when the light breaks through, the darkness doesn’t stand a chance.
God
was giving His people hope by announcing the coming of their Savior. Even upon
such a stubborn-hearted, stiff-necked, ungrateful and unholy generation, the
Lord of mercy and grace was not abandoning His promise but fulfilling His Word
with the hope of salvation.
“For
to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon
his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
“…and
you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins”
(Matthew 1:21).
“In
him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the
darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:4-5).
“I
am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but
will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
If
you’re looking for hope in your despair or light in your darkness, look to
Jesus. The promise of His first advent (“coming”) brought hope to those in
gloom, and the promise of His return gives us sure hope today for better things
to come.
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