Friends, it’s official…we’re in the season of Advent! Not only that, but we’ve also reached December. Now, we all know that December is an important month in our calendars, and it is that way for obvious reasons. Still, just so we’re all on the same page, I’ll spell it out for us. December is an important, special month because it is the month that we celebrate a very important birthday…mine. Of course, December is important! After all, that’s when I made my debut! It’s always been pretty amazing for me to think about how everyone gets excited for December just because I was born. Chris - tmas time. Chris - tmas gifts. Chris - tmas break. Chris - tmas celebrations. Chris - tmas cards. So remember in December, keep Chris in Christmas!
Obviously, that’s not the case, but thanks for putting up with me! Though I am valued and cherished in God’s eyes (as are you), though I am important (as are you), though my birthday is a day that I can celebrate (as can you on your birthdays), though my life can be world-changing (as can yours…at least in as much as we are used by God to bring about God’s purposes and plans that He has for each of us), I know that December is special because of Jesus. The only way that I can be mentioned in the same sentence as Him is because of the undeserved love and mercy that He gave me. I’ve been adopted, renewed, transformed, restored, all by the blood of Christ. No. December (& Advent) isn’t about me. It’s not about you. It’s not about Santa. It’s not about Rudolf. It’s not about Scrooge or the Grinch or jingling bells, or snow, or gingerbread houses, or hot chocolate. It’s not even really about family get togethers or caroling or Christmas cookies or stockings or trees or lights or any of those things. Instead, December (or at least Advent & Christmas which are celebrated in December) should be about Jesus. Just as a reminder, here are a couple of clichés to keep in mind. Jesus is the reason for the season. Keep Christ in Christmas.
As that is the case, as Advent is a season where we can focus on Christ, as Advent (& the rest of life) should be about Jesus, let’s focus on some of the things that Advent reminds us about Christ. In particular, let’s look at the Advent wreath (a good seasonal reminder), and the candles that are lit on the wreath each week. Let’s take it one week at a time and discuss some of the properties and characteristics of Jesus as they relate to the candles that are lit for the 4 weeks of Advent. Sound good? Great! Keep reading. Don’t like it? I’m sorry. Keep reading anyway.
Advent. Week 1. The Candle of Hope.
Hope.
Hope can be kind of an interesting thing. Hope can be found. Hope can be lost. Hope can be fulfilled. Hope can be unfulfilled. Hope can be realized. Hope can be unrealized. Not enough hope can lead to depression and defeat. Enough hope can lead to satisfaction and victory. Too much hope, placed in the wrong location, can lead to unwise decisions and defeat once again. Just a little bit of hope, placed in the right location, can lead to wise decisions and victory. Hope can provide strength. Hope can be a weakness. Hope can provide joy. Hope can provide sorrow.
Hope.
In my mind, all of these things that happen surrounding hope can be narrowed down to one basic question with two possible answers.
The question: Where is your hope?
The answers: The right place. The wrong place.
Hope that is found in the right place can lead to that hope being fulfilled and realized. It can lead to satisfaction. Even just a small amount of hope in the right place can lead to wise decisions and victory. Hope located in the right place can provide strength, can provide joy.
Contrarily, hope that is found in the wrong place can lead to that hope being unfulfilled, unrealized. It can lead to dissatisfaction. A huge amount of hope in the wrong thing can lead to unwise decisions and defeat. Hope located in the wrong place can be a weakness and provide sorrow.
Hope.
We all hope in something.
Some of us hope that our hard work and savings will provide a lush life of retirement. Some of us hope that our government will work for our good and provide us with what we need. Some of us hope that our families will be a constant source of love, understanding and support. Some of us hope to be the one to break the cycle of addiction in our family. Some of us hope to be the one who “makes it”. Some of us hope in our good works. Some of us hope in our charm. Some of us hope in luck or in catching a break. Some of us just hope that we can exercise enough for it to counteract the extra pie that we ate over the holidays.
We all hope in a variety of things, and they aren’t all bad. However, if those things are where our hope is grounded? If those things are where our hope stops? If we don’t have hope that extends beyond what we’d like to happen in our personal lives, in our family life, in our financial life, in the life of our nation? If our true hope is rooted in any of the above? Well, we’ve placed our hope in the wrong thing, the wrong place.
There is only one right answer for where we should place our hope. The answer is Jesus.
I know. I’m a pastor. I’m supposed to say that type of thing. Still, the fact that I am a pastor and that I’m supposed to say these things doesn’t make it any less true. The fact remains, Jesus is the only correct answer for where we place our hope.
The Old Testament is chock full of people trusting in God and placing their hope in one who was yet to be revealed. Look at what Jeremiah hoped in from God:
“The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.”
~Jeremiah 23:5
Or how about this one from Isaiah:
Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
~Isaiah 53:4-6
Both prophets (and there are many other Old Testament examples that I could have used), placed their hope in One who was yet to come, One who was yet to be revealed. Scripture teaches us that both prophets ultimately put their hope in Jesus. Even though they had yet to know his name, even though they had yet to hear the story of his birth, even though they had not yet experienced Christmas, both men through the gift of God put their hope in Jesus.
For us, the Advent season is a reminder of where we should put our hope. We live in a time where we know about Jesus. We know about Christmas. We have heard the stories of the birth of Christ in ways that the Old Testament prophets could only dream. We have learned about the life of Jesus, his teachings, his death, his resurrection. We have heard his promises. How he has promised to be with us. How he has promised to come again. How he has promised to reveal his kingdom. How he has promised that there will be a new heaven, a new earth. We live in a time where Jesus has been revealed. Still, I ask…where is your hope? Where is it really placed?
Maybe you are hoping that you won’t get the coronavirus.
Maybe you’re hoping that “normalcy” will return.
Maybe you’re hoping that you won’t be alone on Christmas.
Maybe you’re hoping to get a new job.
Maybe you’re hoping to finally be able to retire and enjoy life.
Maybe you’re hoping to feel better.
Maybe you’re hoping that your life won’t be so chaotic.
None of those hopes are bad. All are completely feasible. All are within God’s capabilities. But, if they are your true Hope, your ground-level, foundational Hope (with a capital H)?
It’s not enough.
We need our Hope to be placed in Jesus. So firmly, so completely, so entirely that even if all of our other hopes turn up empty, we still have Hope.
Even if we get the coronavirus, there is Hope in Jesus.
Even if our “normal” never returns, there is Hope in Jesus.
Even if we are “alone” on Christmas, there is Hope in Jesus (and we know that God is with us and we are not alone).
Even if we are jobless, there is Hope in Jesus.
Even if we are never able to retire, there is Hope in Jesus.
Even if we feel worse and worse until we die, there is Hope in Jesus.
Even if life continues to spin at a frantic rate and never seems to be in control, there is Hope in Jesus.
Advent. Week 1. Candle of Hope.
I ask you…Where is your Hope?
In money, in power, in things, in security, in your house, in your family, in your job, in your position, in your good deeds, in yourself, in your spouse, in _______?
Please don’t get this answer wrong! Please do not place your ultimate Hope in anything but Jesus. There is only one right answer. I hope you find him this season. Jesus. He is our Hope. He is our Hope for today. He is our Hope for tomorrow. He is our Hope now and forevermore.
~ Pastor Chris
