THE CANDLE OF HOPE

Like the prophets in the Old Testament, we hope for a Messiah to save us from the sin in the world (Isaiah 9:6-7). We anticipate our Savior’s arrival.

Also known as the “prophecy candle,” this candle assures us we can have hope that God will fulfill the prophecies declared in the Old Testament about Jesus. Hope doesn’t disappoint us (Romans 5:5).

In this day and age, where evil abounds and all seems lost, especially during this time of the pandemic, we can also hope that the prophecies about Jesus’ second arrival to earth will also be fulfilled.

The somber purple color on the candle represents repentance and fasting as we anticipate the Lord’s coming. Purple doubles as a color for royalty throughout the Bible, symbolizing God’s kingship and reign.

What does the Bible say about Hope?
Christians can often confuse the word hope for wishful thinking. If we hope something will happen, we have no control over whether or not it will take place.

But the Biblical sense of hope is very different. Hope, in the Bible, exists as a secure assurance, a trust placed in a trustworthy God. God has not failed us in the past, and therefore, if He claims He will do something in the future, we can have a hope that He will fulfill that claim.

Hope waits and endures. It isn’t flimsy or merely wishful thinking. It can withstand fire, trials, and despair.

Why Does This Matter?
Hope is an important thing. It helps us during significant trials or times of distress. It offers us security that God will arrive and though we cannot see Him now, we will see Him face to face one day (Hebrews 11).

In lieu of Advent, it helps us to recognize the hope the Israelites experienced throughout the Old Testament, especially during the time of the prophets, such as Isaiah. They yearned for a Messiah to save them from their enemies, and ultimately, the greatest enemy: their sin.

Like the prophets, we also hope. We hope Jesus will return soon to this dark and despairing world. (by Hope Bolinger)

“At Christmas time, it’s easy to think so much about what God has done in the past that we forget to look toward the future. As wonderful as it was, Jesus’s first coming will pale in comparison to His second.

3 Ways His Second Coming Will Be Like the First
1. When Jesus returns in all His glory, one thing will not have changed. He will still be the Son of Man. He might be full of power and authority, but He is still the same God who is called Emmanuel, the Word made flesh, the One who walked among us.

2. The second similarity of the second coming of Christ to the first is simply the fact that He will come. It’s been more than 2,000 years since His feet walked this earth, but He has never failed to fulfill His promises. He said He would return, and you can fully believe He will. He is not a God who keeps His distance. He came to live among us once; He will return to take us to live with Him as well

3. And when He does return, He will again be worshipped. This time, however, instead of a just a handful of shepherds and a few wise men, “every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father..” (Philippians 2:10-11)

3 Ways His Second Coming Will Be Different From The First
1. When Jesus was born, He left the throne room of heaven and took on flesh to walk among us like one of us. He became a “Son of man” and was born with all the frailty of every babe who has ever been swaddled. When Christ first came, He came in weakness. When He returns, He will come in power.

He will arrive not on the earth, but in the clouds, with all the authority and glory that have always been His. There will be no humble lodgings or parents fleeing in fear from jealous kings. He will not come like a child but as the King He is, absolutely ready to reign. The Emmanuel who walked with us, serving others and washing their feet, will return and be served by all nations and peoples.

2. His second coming will not be an event witnessed only by a few people and some barnyard animals. Revelation 1:7 says, “every eye will see Him.” The busy people of Bethlehem may have missed the first coming, but they won’t miss the second.

3. And, unlike His first coming, there will be no end to His second. He won’t walk among us for 33 years then head back to heaven this time. His Kingdom will have come, and it will last forever.

That thought breathes hope and life into our bones, just like it did for the Apostle John who fell “as though dead” at Jesus’ feet in Revelation Chapter 1. Jesus told him, “Don’t be afraid! I am the First and the Last. I am the living One. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever!” (Revelation 1:17-18)

That’s what Christmas is really about. Yes, we celebrate the fact that Jesus came, but we also rejoice in the fact that He is coming again. (CHARLIE WHITE)

“Help me with my helmet?” Haddon asks as I stare blankly into a sea of disorganized items in our garage. I fasten the buckle at his chin. His round cheeks press tightly against the strap. He is growing into a strong boy. But he hasn’t lost his baby face yet. He is wildly happy because after a few days of rain, we are finally taking a walk. We embark down the bike path until we reach the pedestrian crossing.

“Don’t touch the button! GERMS!” I quickly say as I dig my elbow into the call button at the crosswalk to avoid using my hands. “Why I’m not in school? Is it germs? Is it the sickness?” I inwardly kick myself. My panic about germs clearly caused him to think about this too. It’s already hit pretty close to us. The virus made its way into our school system, impacting a few staff members at several schools. The kids’ principal is infected. Sadly, a teacher in our county died. “Yes,” I answer.

His question now rapidly fades from his attention. As soon as we cross he swiftly peddles ahead on his scooter. He is unaware of what all this means. Each day we are faced with graphs of lines that only go up. We are shown future projections—of cases, deaths, jobs, and the economy. Most of us consume a daily diet of the latest news. We want to know what will happen next. There is such uncertainty.

I’m reminded of Psalm 131:1-2 “O Lord my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high. I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.”

Haddon doesn’t understand the chaos in our world and all the ramifications it entails. He doesn’t go to bed worried that his parents might not take care of him the next day. He knows when he awakes, he will be provided for. He rests in our faithfulness to him. Global pandemic or not, he knows that his mommy and daddy love him. He knows we’re going to care for him.

Similarly, David, the author of this Psalm, expresses a childlike faith. There were many times when he needed to trust God. We don’t know which circumstances he might be thinking of here. But it seems he’s personally experienced God’s steadfast Fatherly care. So much so, he’s resting in it like a calmed child.

Unlike my mothering, God’s faithfulness is holy and perfect. It’s rooted primarily in His character. For us, we have a vantage point David didn’t have: We can trust God because He’s supplied our greatest need through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection.

How severe will this crisis be? I don’t know. But we don’t have to figure it out—thinking of things too lofty for us. All we need to know is that whatever happens, God loves us. He’s going to care for us.

Most days, Haddon sweetly nestles close to me while I read a large stack of books to him. In these moments, he is quiet, still and content. He doesn’t know it. But his mom is taking notes. I’m learning from him how to trust in my Heavenly Father. “O Israel put your hope in the Lord, both now and forevermore.” Psalm 131:3 (GAIL EMERSON)