A Hope Fan

I’m a Hope fan.

         

For those of you who know me, even casually, you are probably going, “Duh!”

         

A graduate of Hope College, an employee for 8 years, a member of the Board of Trustees for 24 years. I am a Hope fan.

         

But that isn’t what I am writing about. I am a hope fan; the kind of hope that this week is built upon; the hope that we possess because of Easter; Christ’s resurrection.

         

We battle a lot of enemies in life: physical ailments, emotional turmoil, relational challenges, economic stress and personal demons that haunt us for a variety of reasons. It would be easy to be discouraged, to grow worried and to give up. But for those who claim Christ as Lord and Savior, there is always hope. Jesus defeated our most intimidating and feared enemy...death. If Jesus conquered death on our behalf, what is it that you and I cannot overcome?

         

I am a glass half full person; an optimist. I always think things can get better, that we will figure out a way, that whatever hurdle, or barrier, or momentary affliction we may encounter can be overcome.

         

Some people would say it is a personality trait. Others would attribute it to my competitive nature. I would say it stems from my firm belief that Christ can overcome anything!

         

I also know that there are situations and circumstances where hope is crushed. I have sat at the bedside of people who are dying and their relatives are grieving; I have been with parents who have lost a child; I have listened as people have described spouses who are impossible to live with; I have tried to comfort those who are despondent because they have lost their jobs, or because one of their children is addicted to drugs, or suffers from severe mental illness.

         

In these moments we are not ready to hear about hope; hope is a distant companion, pushed to the periphery of life. At the same time, we need to have hope in our arsenal. It needs to be something we can call on when we are ready, otherwise we give in to constant despair which turns into anger and bitterness.

         

The hope of Easter is the hope that puts things in perspective.

         

“...we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (II Corinthians 4:16-18)

         

We are only visiting here. We have an eternal home. No matter what we face here, we do not lose heart. We do not get discouraged. We always have hope.

         

Robbie Seay expressed this truth in the lyrics of one of his songs, Song of Hope:

         

          All things bright and beautiful You are

          All things wise and wonderful You are

          In my darkest night, You brighten up the skies

          A song will rise

          I will sing a song of hope

          Sing along

          God of heaven come down

          Heaven come down

          Just to know that You are near is enough

          God of heaven come down, heaven come down

          All things new

          I can start again

          Creator, God

          Calling me your friend

          Sing praise, my soul

          To the maker of the skies

          A song will rise

         

Hopefully, Sunday you will find a place to worship the author of the hope within us and join me in being a Hope fan!

         

Happy Easter!