No, it wasn't 2,000 years ago. Hope began long before Christ was born. It had been around for centuries, for millennia. In fact, Hope came to life even before its Creator fashioned our world!
Titus 1:2: "...in the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time."
II Timothy 1:9: "...He has saved us...not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before time began."
Hope was born in Heaven, out of the immense love God had for the people He would create. He knew we would be separated from Him because of sin, so He pre-planned the way to give us the Hope of reconciliation with Him.
THIS HOPE
Hope, long ensconced within Israel's heart, broke out from its nest, keen to make a head-start.
Armored with strength that was drawn from the Name, it knew well that Hell would be honing its aim.
Early it flew off to far-eastern lands to place royal gifts in Magi's noble hands.
It eagerly hastened them on toward the Light, and guarded their camp every long, weary night.
Hope watched, alert, over Bethlehem's path, well out of the reach of the Enemy's wrath.
Over sheep-herders' fields it kept vigil, to rout and deflect from their minds any daggers of doubt.
Messiah was born! So their spirits rose high! And though Evil might try, it could not make Hope die.
It skirted a plot, taking wing till it soared above the hot hatred of King Herod's sword.
At last, Hope held the Christ-Child in awe-filled embrace; kissed the slumbering brow of Incarnated Grace;
then Hope started to glow...bright and brighter its blaze, transforming itself into myriad rays.
Each ray sped with joy to create a new nest in the burgeoning faith of a truth-seeker's breast.
This Hope keeps our eyes fixed upon Heaven's door... for Grace Incarnate Himself will come through it once more! ***************** (Becky Rhon)
Hope, in general, seems to be all over the place! Every person lives through myriad hopes in his/her life. But divine Hope, that took its first breath in God's presence as He planned history, has a "Bank" from where it can spill out and splash all over us!
"...the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in Heaven..." (Colossians 1:5)
Divine Hope centers on a most imperative need we have - and a most marvelous gift we are given to meet that need! Hope of eternal life with our Father and his Son! It is possible only because of what Christ did in Bethlehem, at Calvary, and in his empty tomb.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead." (I Peter 1:3) ***************
So we who have availed ourselves of the Gift can echo the psalmists, and joyfully sing:
"I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope." (Psalm 130:5)
"Let your unfailing love surround us, LORD, for our hope is in You alone." (Psalm 33:22)
"As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise You more and more." (Psalm 71:14) ********************
When we trust in our God, we are NEVER without access to Hope! Proverbs 23:18 says "There is surely a future hope for you, and your hope will not be cut off." Promise!!
As we head into a new year, with new presidents (U.S. and soon Ecuador), even in the midst of a raging pandemic, God's promise, written down by Jeremiah, is as alive and true as it was millennia ago:
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)
Thank You!
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