Hope Springs Eternal

So what is the solution to yesterday's depressingly true article? Hope. Yes, hope is the answer. I would like to explain the topic of hope from two different perspectives. One is temporal and the other is eternal. Let's talk about the temporal first.

Temporal hope finds expression in this life. What does it look like? How would you describe it? Temporal hope is waking up in the morning and saying, "It's a new day and I can start afresh." Temporal hope is knowing the sun will come out tomorrow with the birds singing and flitting about as usual. Temporal hope is hitting rock bottom and knowing you can only go up from there. Temporal hope is the realization that you are still alive and can still smell the Kona coffee brewing on a beautiful sunny morning. Temporal hope is very basic and still powerful in its ability to change our attitude for the better.

Temporal hope has great legitimacy. It brings us back to simple truths. Buddhism's focus on finding joy in the sound of rustling leaves or chirping crickets is right on. I'd rather listen to a joyful Buddhist talk about nature than a stressed out, super charged Christian minister talk about the joy of knowing Jesus. Don't get me wrong. I love the Christian faith, but this slick commercialism we see masquerading as the religion of a simple carpenter from Nazareth is nauseating and pure torture to watch and listen to. Do you understand what I am saying?

True Christianity is simple at its core. Read out loud and listen to the raw beauty of this song written by Francis of Assisi:

All creatures of our God and King
Lift up your voice and with us sing
Alleluia! Alleluia! Thou burning sun with golden beam
Thou silver moon with softer gleam
O praise Him O praise Him
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

This preacher of the Gospel found joy and hope in the simple temporal things of this life, but then he connected it to the eternal. He connected it to someone transcendent; someone beyond this world. He connected it to God. It was the only way he could make hope last beyond his present euphoria. He knew his present life would end, but life with God would be forever. The sun and the moon became a gift to be cherished, to be valued, to be grateful for, to be savored only as an appetizer before the main dish of heaven. Understanding God as the giver of good gifts--especially his life--naturally produced hope and thankfulness; hence, this hymn of praise to God.

Temporal hope is just that, temporal. It's temporary. It can be taken way. Hope founded on God, however, cannot be taken away.

At the core level of any Christian believer's heart is the assurance of eternal life. If you knew you would live on forever in a heavenly paradise after you physically die, what would be your overall attitude? It would be hopeful. It would be based in eternity. It would be based on an eternal hope no one could take away. Eternal means time not bound by limitations. Discouragement, hopelessness, despair, and depression come when limitations stop you from experiencing happiness, peace, love, and joy. Physical death is that limitation. Be honest with yourself. Death does scare you. It depresses you. It depresses those teenagers that smashed the I-Pad.

Jesus said this in John chapter five verse twenty four, "I tell you the truth. Whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life. He will not be condemned. He has crossed over from death to life." So what is the answer to the violent mediocrity and hopelessness found in modern society: Thankfulness for all things (especially the simple) and belief in an eternal, transcendent God not bound by our limitations, but who promises eternal life to all who believe in Him.