December 4, 2020

Photo Credit: Luke Hegelson on Unsplash

 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever."

 Hebrews 13:8

 Hope springs eternal.”  Yes, we all know that slogan or saying, but what does it really mean?

 So if hope springs, it has to be there ready to jump up. Then where is there?  Is it deep inside us, just waiting to get out?  Interesting! If this is so, how did it get in there?

 Seems to me, hope must have a spiritual nature, as we can’t go to the kitchen and get a cup of hope, either a small or large cup! If then it is spiritual, it can’t be physically considered. How much hope do you have today? We know there are situations that seem hopeless and others that brim with expectant hope.

 It’s funny -  hope is not tangible, but we talk as if it is. “I sure hope our team beats those ___!”   “It seemed hopeless, then in the 9th inning, we won! Yeah! I know that’s what some of the faithful fans were hoping for.”

 More tangible examples of hope turn my mind to a mountain climber. At the beginning, it would look hopeless to me, looking way up there to the top of one of our world’s tallest mountains and thinking that this courageous group are making ready to climb to the top and plant the Canadian flag.  

 Think about it! If they never allowed themselves to hope they could do it, they would not even try. So is hope like an ignition switch or, more powerfully, like the gun powder behind a bullet or the fuel in a rocket shot to the moon. Easy to get more fuel but if we are low on “hope”, this spiritual thing, how do we grasp more of it?

 Really, we can hope for nothing less than Jesus’ love and righteousness. When it surrounds us, we just know it is there and it brings great comfort.

 Prayer: O God, may we find the hope that springs eternal in the life of your son Jesus.  Amen.

 Charlie Embree is a retired Agricultural scientist. His hobby is his small orchard at home. He has three daughters: Madelene, Angie and Charlotte.