Rachel Sanders - December 3, 2023
Make Room for Hope
Make Room for Hope 12.3.23 Isaiah 9:1-5 1Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— 2The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 3You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. 4For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. 5Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. Hope as we see in scripture is the confident expectation of coming good based on the person and promises of God, and it's strength is in HIS faithfulness to see it through to the end. Eugene Peterson Hope is not about the future, hope is about the present. It obviously has to do with the future, but it is a virtue which is cultivated in the present. It fills the present with energy, it connects the two comings of Jesus so that we are now a participant in them. We are not just remembering the one and believing in the other, we are participating in the continuity of the comings. Isaiah 9:6-7 6For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. Jesus initiated His love as Emmanuel, God with us. (Past) Jesus will come again & make all things new (Future) Revelation 21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Flemming Rutledge "Religious systems that ignore the dark side of life are fundamentally dishonest. In Advent, we don't pretend, as I once thought, that we are in the darkness before the birth of Christ. Rather, we take a good hard look at the darkness we are now facing and define it honestly so that we will understand with utmost clarity that our great and only hope is in Jesus final and victorious coming." The hope that doesn't look over the horizon and into the future to come isn't Christian hope at all. Jesus will bring forth good from the Kingdom to come into the mess of this world. (Present)
