Hope in the midst of hard times

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5).

We are made people of hope by the cross and empty grave of our Lord Jesus Christ. But this hope is not simply being positive or wishful thinking. This is living by faith in the one who takes the sin of the world upon himself and, therefore, puts us right with God by his own death as the sinless one. In our baptism, we die with Christ and are raised to walk in the newness of life. 

Dr Jeffrey Silcock, emeritus professor from Australian Lutheran College, once wrote about how Dr Martin Luther did not specifically write much about Christian hope. Dr Silcock explained that Luther was busy being focused on the work of the cross and the promises of God. With this focus on God’s word and promise, the Christian can travel ‘hopefully’ through all kinds of difficulties and even purposely through death to the promise of eternal life.

The cross and empty grave are God’s markers over all of history, including our own personal history, which we can step into each day, trusting in God’s word and promise. This is hopeful, faithful living focused on what God does for us, not what we do for God. So, we have learned to sing:

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness;
No merit of my own I claim,
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name:
On Christ, the solid rock I stand;
All other ground is sinking sand.
(Lutheran Hymnal 133: Edward Mote, alt)

Let’s get ready for that joyful Easter shout, giving witness to all that the Lord has done for us to make us people of hope: ‘Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed. Alleluia!’