By Bruce Chesser
President, Tennessee Baptist Convention
One of the great words in the English language is the word “hope.” I Peter 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
Peter is often referred to as the “apostle of hope.” Some people associate hope with wishful thinking. You hear it in statements like this, “I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow” or “I hope I pass the test.” That is not the kind of hope that Peter had in mind.
The Greek word for hope means “an eager, confident expectation.” And, according to Peter, it is a living hope. Unlike the empty, dead hope of this world, we live with a living hope that is energizing, alive and active in our souls.
What does Christmas mean to you? I am sure that, like me, it means a lot. But this year, perhaps more than any other in my life it brings hope.
For hundreds of years the promise of the Messiah was just that, a promise. It was something they hoped for and longed for but years had passed and there had been no fulfillment. But in the fullness of time, God sent His Son! That is the Christmas message. And this year, Christmas reminds me that we have a living hope.
This coronavirus is going to end. Vaccines are on the way. But that is not really the hope that I am talking about.
God is on the throne. He was on the throne throughout 2020 and He will be on the throne forever. And His ultimate plan will not be thwarted.
THAT is our living hope. And Christmas reminds us of that living hope that is eternal.
2020 is almost in the record books. And, we have a wonderful hope for what God is going to do in 2021.
Merry Christmas!
