Friday, November 2, 2018

Hardwired for Hope

During the past decade, the theme of "hope" dominated the popular culture, especially in novels and films.

In "Man of Steel" Kal-El explains to Lois Lane that the symbol on his chest meant "hope" in his native Kryptonian.

Other books and movies were set in dystopian futures sorely in need of hope: The Hunger Games triology, the Divergent trilogy, The Book of Eli, I Am Legend, and Chappie, to name just a few.

The theme of hope or the portrayal of hopelessness have been common themes for previous generations as well, as the arts have reflected their times.

For example, there is the film that helped launch Mel Gibson's career, 1979's Mad Max. set in a violent and self-destructing Australia.

In the same vein, when the Star Wars franchise launched two years before that, Episode IV was titled "A New Hope," as Luke Skywalker represented the one who would deliver the galaxy from the likes of Darth Vader and an oppressive Empire.

Popular culture's recognition of the power of hope should come as no surprise.

We, as creatures made in the image of our Creator, have been hardwired for hope.

We need hope in order to thrive. The darkest moments that we face are the ones permeated with hopelessness, the sense that nothing will get better.

Unfortunately, the majority of worldviews and belief systems leave a person hopeless.

Worldviews that reject God are inherently bereft of hope.

Belief systems that portray God as vindictive, capricious, or legalistic leave their adherents doubtful of their standing with him.

As I often say, your worldview or belief system is only as good as what it does for you on your deathbed. If it robs you of hope, what good is it?

Our Creator knows that we thrive on hope, so hope He provides, in the flesh and blood presence of the Savior, Jesus.

If Jesus' earthly ministry were happening in the 21st century instead of the 1st century, maybe He would have revised one of His "I Am" statements to say, "I am the Hope of the world."

Then He could have said to His Church, "You are the hope of the world," because that is indeed what the Church is.

The Church's ministry of reconciliation and its message of forgiveness are the only hope that this world has.

Any proclamation that falls short of delivering Jesus does just that.

It falls short.

It falls short of offering the hope that we need.

It falls short of giving us what God wants us to have.

Our Creator knows that we are hardwired for hope, because He designed us that way.

He knows that hope is the spring from which faith and love flow (Colossians 1:5).

He knows that hope can temper the pangs of grief and sorrow (1 Thessalonians 4:13).

Hope we need, and hope God provides, through His Son Jesus Christ, the Hope of the world.