HOPE
quite the word
we all want it, need it
sometimes we don't feel there is any
death most definitely puts a big PERIOD behind any hope we could ever come up with, humanly speaking that is.
A little over 2 weeks ago we received a very discouraging piece of information from the nursing home in Germany where my father had been staying.
He had tested positive for COVID 19.... fear wanted to grip our hearts, because, let's face it, a 82 year old man, who had been struggling with Parkinson's for a very long time, who had had triple bypass surgery 19 years ago, and had been declining over the last years mentally and physically, how much hope was there for him to overcome this virus????
But.. he surprised us with never getting any fever or cough, and even testing negative for Covid after 2 weeks.
So Monday morning came with quite the shock.
The hope for him to beat this lost.
Peacefully we learned, he had just fallen asleep and taken his last breath.
Hope lost, yes, for more time here on earth with us,
BUT GOD...
To the hungry and meek
To those who grieve
To the broken, in need
A baby has come
We have known pain
We’ve felt death’s sting
God, help us believe
This baby has come
The angel appeared
Said do not fear
For peace is here
A baby has come
The advent of life
Let hope arise
We’ve our Savior and Christ
The Baby has come
The proud will be low
The humble will know
They’re valued and loved
For the Baby has come
So fitting that we are just one week away from celebrating the coming of the King, the birth of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who, even though He is God, that day so very long ago took on flesh, humbling Himself by taking on the form of a servant.
He came, and all who recognize their need for a Saviour, all who believe and confess that He is God's Son and paid the penalty for our sin once and for all, will be called children of God.
We are given an eternal hope, a hope that will not disappoint, that not even death can take away, a hope that is rooted in who Jesus is and what He has done for us.
By dying for our sins, by paying the price for our debt, He restored peace with God for us who believe!
This undeserved gift, this grace is what gives us hope, even in death,
Hope is a person.
His name is Jesus.
Do you know Him???
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit
you may abound in hope.
Romans 15:13
