Juxtaposition of Hope
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. -Romans 5:3-5
There is something magical about the night of Christmas Eve. Everyone has gone to bed, and the house is on edge as it awaits the turning of the clock to usher in Christmas Day! I will admit that even as an adult I struggle to sleep through the night. No matter the age or the situation I find myself, every Christmas Eve night I sleep in increments as my mind is ablaze with anticipation. Just the title of Christmas Day sounds auspicious and regal as if, no matter the situation, reality will pause allowing a Hallmark movie scene to unravel before our eyes.
Yet, what happens when, instead of unraveling like a Hallmark Christmas movie plot, it collapses into a giant chaotic mess? Or even worse, maybe nothing happens. The magic that sparked anticipation and hopes of something new, different, and offering a new or better chance, fizzles by the time you open your eyes. Today, many children will wake up to find they are still in scary, abusive, dangerous situations and the magic that promised something different lets them down. Families that went to bed hoping the nightmare of being ripped apart was just a dream, and Christmas Day will usher in normalcy and reunite their family. This morning many children wake up without their parents and in fear they will be deported without seeing them again. Or the individuals that go to bed suffocated by depression or isolating feelings, grasping for a “Christmas Miracle” still wake up tomorrow suffocated and tired. Where is the Christmas miracle or magical moment now?
Life is not easy and has never been guaranteed. Paul makes a bold statement in Romans. “And this hope will not lead to disappointment.” The hope he is referring to is the confident hope of salvation, which is the restored relationship with God, through Christ. In essence, when we are amid struggles and hardships, we can fall back on the knowledge that Christ is with us. No matter the condition of the night we face, whether it is a magical Christmas Eve night or horrific and unbearable struggle, we have a place to look for hope. No matter the depth of darkness we can always look up to Christ for strength. We have a place of retreat or safe foothold to support and hold up our weakened bodies as we cling on for dear life.
Reflecting and embracing Christmas means recognizing that the Hope of Christmas isn’t just waking up to a perfected life, but it is God embracing us despite the perfected Christmas movie storyline resolve. Jesus stepped into the storyline to give us strength to face the unknowns of tomorrow, whether good or bad. Christmas day does bring Joy but not because it erases the struggles but because we have someone who sits with us and calls us friend. Paul’s words, “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation,” are not shallow words to sugar coat struggle. They provoke and inspire a strength that is deeply rooted in the Gospel. The chapter begins with his declaration, “Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”
See, we STAND in the grace that was unveiled the first Christmas day. More than that, we can CONFIDENTLY and JOYFULLY look forward to sharing God’s glory. The Christmas story is all about God working through an unlikely betrothed young girl to overcome the greed and evil of the fallen kingdom seen in the empire. The prideful king, enraged in jealousy, tried to destroy and overcome the light of God. The message was first proclaimed to unlikely individuals who, themselves, had much to overcome and still ran to the manger to worship. The message of God’s Kingdom was not and is not intended to be kept in the lofty halls of palaces and cathedrals but spoken to the hearts of the downcast and struggling. The Christmas story demonstrates a juxtaposition in understanding Hope. It is not found in the palace or with kings but in humility and in the midst of struggle. Hope stands despite our expectations and disappointments.
You see, it’s the unlikely and humble that God works through to bring the world back into clarity. You, me, and the other quiet and humble people that in the small ways of loving and serving are, not only overcoming, but bringing beauty to our community. There will always be raging prideful kings, presidents, people in power, that are consumed with the empire’s lust for power and greed trying to destroy the beauty of God’s creation and Truth. Yet, they will fail. If there is one lesson we can learn from the Christmas story, it is that the Awe-inspired and holy moments may be small, but they cause cataclysmic ripples of Love and Grace. Yet, we still must hold out and hold the line. The shepherds still had to go back to the fields and face many uncertainties. Mary and Joseph had to take Jesus and flee as immigrants to Egypt to escape the madness of the king. They faced each situation with confidence because their Hope in God was unwavering.
As followers of Jesus, we know “the Light has shattered the darkness, and the darkness will NEVER extinguish the light.” Therefore, we are commissioned to go to those who are waking up today and still living in fear and crippled by the darkness, and shine bright the Hope of Christ. We cling to each other and hold the Kingdom line. We never back down and we never give up because we have a Hope that will NEVER disappoint us. May you continue to live in the fullness of that message knowing our confidence is not in a day, traditions, or the stuff, but in the King that demonstrated his great love for us by:
“Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges, he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross. Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” -Philippians 2:6-11
