Light in the Darkness

Christmas is a time of hope. Hope is the fuel that gives us the courage to go on. Hope provides us with the strength to fail and keep going. Without it, we wither and die. I wish that were an overstatement, but the older I get, the more convinced I am that — without hope, everything else collapses.Today, we read from Isaiah, who saw hope for the future nearly 2800 years ago and shared it with us all. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this. Isaiah 9:2-7 [ESV]The Advent season is here again. The holidays and their pressure, possibilities, and responsibilities overwhelm us again. It’s ironic, really, that the time we set aside to celebrate hope and peace is so often stolen from us by our own busyness (business) and anxiety. But Advent is a time of hope, and we don’t have to let the pressures of this world steal that from us; we do have a choice in the matter, no matter how we feel sometimes.Coming out of a highly political and divisive season in the U.S., it might be hard to focus on where our hope is found. Every election is the same in one way: no matter who is elected, they will be sinful and flawed. Our hope is not in human strength or excellence. It is in Jesus, who is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and — the Prince of Peace.For Isaiah, this was a future hope. For us, it is both a memory and a future hope. A memory of a young girl who was promised a child of hope but also a child of pain. A memory of Jesus who gave his life for a world that didn’t seem to care. But it is also a memory of His resurrection from the grave in glory and his promise to return as the ultimate king of kings. In all of these, we find a foundation for hope. It is a genuine hope, not wishful thinking. His resurrection is well attested, and his prophecies of the coming judgment of Jerusalem came true in shocking detail. His Spirit is in us, testifying to the truth, and the word of God holds steady while empires rise and fall. Hope does not come from new ideas. It comes from the ancient promises of God. Isaiah knew this all those years ago and ended this passage with, “The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will do this.” The “Lord of Hosts” was an ancient title for God, even in Isaiah’s time. Isaiah was not hoping that a better idea or political system would come along. His faith was in the ancient but certain promises of the God who created and maintained all of creation. God himself was coming to us to be our prince of peace. The name of this prince is Jesus. And He is coming again. There is hope.This WeekAs we enter this Advent season, let’s remember why Christians long ago felt it was so important to build this season of remembrance and hope into the church calendar. Let’s re-anchor our hope in the Lord of Hosts, His only Son and coming king, Jesus. This week, let’s share that hope with someone who needs encouragement.Have a great week! Get full access to On walking the Way at tompossin.substack.com/subscribe