The Advent of Hope | Fearing The Storm
Hope does not fear the storm but looks ahead to the promised future.
The coming of Jesus Christ meant hope for the people of Israel. Finally, the promised Messiah the Israelites had waited for arrived. Now, the oppression they felt seemed to almost have an end and they could endure seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Of course, we know they held a smaller scope than what God intended but the sentiment remains correct. Jesus Christ, coming at man provided a source of hope that mankind had not experienced before. Nowhere is this seen better than in Jesus’ treatment of storms that arise throughout the Gospel. In short, they do nothing to Jesus Christ, being secured on the future glory that awaited Him and knowing that a storm could not be mightier than Him.
On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Mark 4:35-41 ESV
Jesus, in His infinite strength and ability, knew that the storm posed no real threat to Him. The Father did not send the Son only to be whimsically killed by a storm. Instead, Jesus could sleep during the midst of the storm knowing the future that was ahead of Him. During this advent season, we look at the coming of Jesus and the second coming, in hope that there is a better future for those of us who have submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Thus, when we face the challenges and difficulties of the world, we can rest in the enduring faith and strength of Jesus Christ to persevere through to the end.
A Present Hope
Often times the storms we face looks severely intimidated in the present moment. Nor should we necessarily downplay their significance and danger. The storms the disciples faced in the boat presented a real danger to them. Their fear was not unfounded but simply amounted to a problem of scope. This is precisely what lead to their asking “Do you not care that we are perishing?” For all their fear, though, they lost hope. In reality, the Savior of the world slept peacefully in their boat, not unaware of the storm but unfazed by its effects. When compared with the power and strength of God who calls His people, the danger of the storm cannot remove our hope from us in the present danger. Nothing you face will place you beyond the reach of God. For the Christian, His presence goes before you, dwells with you, and remains available to you at all times.
The coming of Jesus Christ into the world to be with us provided us with, not only a future hope, but a hope during our present circumstances. For a people who could not see the end of their suffering, now the world could be put into perspective that the Messiah had come. Jesus Christ as Immanuel, God with us, reveals hope in the midst of our circumstances. Life with God is not only a future event, but a present reality. When Jesus ascended to Heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to be with us just as Jesus Christ came into the world and will return once again. Whether we wrestle with depression and anxiety, crave change in our life, experience the difficulties of dealing with our sin, this is not the end. The present life will not be our supreme end nor will this be our best life. Something far greater than our present struggles and this life, however good or bad it may be, comes to us as Jesus Christ takes on flesh. God comes to be with us so that we might return to Him and in that, there is hope for our present life.
A Future Glory
The question for us remains to ask where we place our hope. Advent, being as much about the second coming as the first, helps us look at where we place our hope. When our hope is rested in the person of Jesus Christ we center our lives on around the future glory of a life lived in eternity with God. Hope looks beyond the storms of life to what lies ahead. Furthermore, when we place our faith in the works of Jesus Christ, we have confidence that the promises of God stand firm on His sovereign ability to do what He says He will do. Do not become downcast or down trodden when the world throws out difficulties throughout our life. The coming of Jesus Christ signifies a coming hope in something beyond our immediate circumstances.
Everyone faces problems and difficulties. In fact, those who put their faith in Jesus Christ are promised additional troubles during their life on earth. When the storms of life hit, put your hope in the Risen Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing in this world will surpass the majesty of eternal life with Jesus Christ, forever. Any difficulties and trials we face because of our faith will fade from our memory as we enjoy the unfettered presence of God, forever. Therefore, following God becomes easier to endure the difficulties planted on the foundation of Christ’s future glory. Enduring through the pain of submitting our lives to Christ gets placed in perspective when the hope of an eternal reward is in view. Persecution for our faith becomes inconsequential when compared with the hope of a future glory in heaven. Therefore, we live our lives looking towards eternity rather than find fulfillment in the pleasure of the world. There is more than this life, but eternal life in the presence of God forever. When we understand and experience this
