“For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what is seen? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”
Romans 8:24-25 (NRSV)

Happy New Year! As crazy as this year has been, we are all waiting for this year to finally end, hoping for a safer year ahead. Reverend Mike shared with us this past Sunday that advent season begins a new year for the church in preparation for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. The first week of advent reminds us of the blessed hope as prophesied and fulfilled that unto this world a savior be born.

^“Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son and shall name him Immanuel.”
Isaiah 7:14 (NRSV)

The word “modeling” is how Reverend Mike described living out prophecy, like a son mimicking a father. The Christian impact we have on our children is a prophetic fulfillment that every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Romans 15:13 (NRSV)

Hope is an expectation or desire for something to happen, although for many it is just wishful thinking. It reminds me of a TV game show where the host tells the audience, “Let’s see what contestant #1 chose from behind curtain #2. It’s a brand new…….”

The hope we have as Christians is enduring and patient with a secure assurance and trust in a God who will not fail us. Upon what are your hopes set? How has Christ revealed His hope for your life?

In our Grand Sweep reading we are treated to a story of hope and trust in the book of 2 Kings.

“Now the Arameans on one of their raids had taken a young girl captive from the land of Israel, and she served Naaman’s wife. She said to her mistress, ‘If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy.’”
2 Kings 5:2-3 (NRSV)

A young Israelite servant girl was taken in by the family of Naaman, the commander of the King’s army. Naaman was a valiant warrior who suffered from leprosy. The young servant girl pleaded with Naaman to go and see this great man of God called Elisha. We don’t know much more about this young girl, but it is quite evident that she had unrelenting faith and immense hope that Elisha could cure and heal Naaman. As the story goes, it was the persistence of this servant girl that convinced Naaman to immerse himself seven times in the Jordan river and be washed clean of leprosy. The hopeful assurance of a meek slave girl convinced a mighty warrior to trust her and eventually accept the healing grace of God, so much so, he went on to renounce all other gods. Do you recall a time when hope sustained you in a crisis? What change came of it?

“Father, if the prophet had commanded you to do something difficult, would you not have done it? How much more when all he said to you was, ‘Wash, and be clean’?”
2 Kings 5:13 (NRSV)

A few years ago, a picture of a boy standing in front of the flagpole in his high school courtyard went viral on the internet. The boy was standing with his head bowed down praying diligently and full of hope for this nation.  National “See You at the Pole” Day is a day when students throughout our great country gather at their schools to pray in solidarity and unity. As he fervently prayed, he stood all by himself and nobody joined him at the flagpole. He could only hope that God would use him somehow on this day.

“Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.”
Romans 12:11-12 (NRSV)

His mother recounted their conversation. “He told me with sheer amazement in his voice that as he stood alone and prayed the cry of his heart had been, ‘God, as people drive by, let them wonder, let their hearts be pricked.’” Many commented that they did not realize it was See You At the Pole Day and were astonished at his steadfast obedience. The news and the picture went viral with comments from folks thanking him for his faith and even those that said they commended him for standing for his beliefs. His mother was proud of him for doing everything they had taught him and everything we ever hoped he would do. This boy’s faith and confidence was molded by his mother’s devotion to lead by example, so much so that his obedience and hope in God would inspire others to prayer. How has God used your hope to show others the possibilities?

“For God alone my soul waits in silence, for my hope is from him.”
Psalm 62:5 (NRSV)

An old man found himself on an island all by himself, or so he thought. He had seen and experienced the persecution and death first-hand. He of all people would be chosen to share the ultimate story of hope for he once had a special relationship with the King. As told in the Gospels, he was the disciple whom Jesus loved. A man specifically chosen from the devoted disciples to tell us the rest of the story of hope.

John the Apostle’s patient endurance and unwavering hope sustained him on this island as we read in Revelation 1:9-20.

“I was in spirit on the Lord’s day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet… Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me… I saw one like the Son of Man… When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he placed his right hand on me, saying, Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last.”

As we read further in Revelations, we hear more from John casting this vision of blessed hope for the return of Jesus. These revelations imbued every teaching John learned from his mentor, friend, brother, and savior. Who instilled hope in your life? Was it a parent, teacher, coach, pastor or maybe a mentor?

“We have this hope, a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters the inner shrine behind the curtain…”
Hebrews 6:19 (NRSV)

Paul reminds us that we are to live out our new life in Christ rooted and established in a saving faith that lifts our hopes to pull back the curtains. As believers we know that the prophecy of Jesus has been fulfilled. Our hope now is focused on the return of Jesus and the new Jerusalem he has promised. It is an abiding hope for the new world to come.

“Set your mind on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:2 (NRSV)

I especially like the way one of our patriarchal AUMCers describes the prophecy throughout the Bible as always pointing to a prescient hope for the Messiah by His birth, death, resurrection, and eventual triumphant return. “The old testament is the new testament concealed and the new testament is the old testament revealed.” Shortly after Jesus’ death he appeared to his disciples and shared this similar statement in his own words as he opened their minds to the truth revealed. This is the glorious hope we hold onto dearly.

“Then he said to them, these are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you-that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures.”
Luke 24:44-45 (NRSV)

Here the good news. Paul shares with us that the hope of glory is revealed in Christ Jesus. He encourages us to be steadfast in faith and ardent in spirit for this promise of hope. He reminds us that we have this sustaining hope that is produced by our character and refined through our suffering for our beliefs. As Christian believers we may find ourselves all alone in faithful mission to the world, or ever trusting in redemptive healing of our lives no matter our ailment or sin, or grieving a loss of someone we loved dearly. In all that happens in our life we faithfully await the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. We confidently rely on His prophetic words; “I am the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” That is the hope we can count on that opens the curtain for joy, peace, and love. Happy New Year!

How can you share this story of hope in someone’s life who needs to hear it?

“Therefore, since we are justified by faith, wehave peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained accessto this grace in which we stand; and weboast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. And not only that, but wealso boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
Romans 5:1-5 (NRSV)

Peace be with you,

Kenny Shortsleeve, Lay Leader

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his people, and God himself will be with them;  he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:3-4 (NRSV)