Hope – The First Parousia

What does hope mean for you? For those facing layoffs and uncertain futures, hope lies in the mercy of a compassionate owner or in people who are negotiating for them. For those facing heart wrenching news of a debilitating disease, hope lies in the expertise of doctors, scientists and medicines. For those facing empty cupboards, cold nights and minimal resources, hope lies in the compassion of those around them. I do not want to minimize the needs of people today but I do want us to take a look back in history. For those in Israel hundreds of years ago, the oppression of the masses through multiple layers of rule and control could not be ignored. Hope was fleeting especially considering the prophet Isaiah told of a time when God’s people would rule the nation, even the world, and yet the people of God were in a place of servitude and darkness.

Many of the things we complain about today were very relevant back then. There were three major levels of governance, the Romans, King Herod and the Court of the Priests, and the taxation was incredibly oppressive. There was little trust between the levels of governing and the ones who truly suffered were the common people. Taxed into submission, kept down by numerous levels of bureaucracy and people begging for scraps in order to live. Hope was fleeting but the scriptures told of a Saviour to come and in this they held out hope. Thousands of people put their hope and faith in a finite resource but forget to seek out the foundation of hope, Jesus Christ. The message of fulfillment of hope comes directly from the Saviour. He asks us all to follow Him, follow His ways. Give unto others without thought for self. Seek out ways to pour into lives not just at Christmas but every day. If we all look out for each other, we can eliminate the fear of no hope. Jesus came to earth, taught us to love one another, pour out into the lives of the less fortunate and seek our opportunities to love our neighbours. It is true that salvation does not rely on works but when we understand how much we are loved and how He gave everything so that we could live forever with the King, how could we not share this joy, this hope, with those around us?

This Sunday we will celebrate the hope, the eternal hope who came to earth so that we may know a new joy.  We invite you to join us in person or online at 10:30 MST or you can watch live on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/MainAvenueFellowship/) or view it afterwards on our website (www.mainavefellowship.blogspot.ca).

Blessings
Pastor Todd