He Came For Hope, Not Peace
As the rush of the season surrounds us, it can be difficult to keep our focus on the real reasons for the season.
We look for hope, for purpose, for inspiration while eating too many sweets and searching for the perfect gift.
Hope, an elusive state. We use it as a noun to describe a feeling, and as a verb to describe the actions behind the feeling.
Hope isn’t found in a snowman, a red-nosed reindeer, or a jolly elf. Hope isn’t found in gifts, trees, decorations, or food.
It is there in the middle of the season, but at times it can seem to be just out of reach.
Hope comes from the birth of a baby. A tiny blessing that arrives at a time in history where hope seemed to be only a distant memory.
It comes not just from a baby, but because of who the baby is, and he will fulfill.
He is incarnate. He is God in human form, who came for us. He came to take our place. To pay a price we can not pay.
He came to save, to restore, to redeem. He came to give life.
It is written, “He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners” (Isaiah 61:1b)
The Lord’s coming is a time of joy, peace, and hope, but it is also the coming of change, the fulfillment of promises, and the entrance of a warrior who came not to bring peace to earth, but a sword. He came to show us righteousness, holiness, and truth.
During this season, I hope that you will find the joy and hope that can be elusive, and that you will glimpse the righteousness and holiness that have changed history, and changed lives.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:1)
