Why Hope Never Dies
(Picture: Paulo Gamba through Creative Commons)
Ever watched a sports game and your team seems to have everything go against it? Like there are some outside forces, beyond our control, deciding the destiny of our team? Or you see a film, or read a book, and you just ‘know’ what is going to happen? Like there are forces beyond your control which are controlling the destiny of the characters?
The reason we empathise so much with this is because they speak into something real – and I’m not just speaking of unseen, eternal supernatural forces which Christians – and many others – believe exist. These concepts also ring true because many of us have a strong suspicion there are other unseen forces at work in this world.Powers which have no face. No visible presence. Nothing which can be pinned down.
But yet are so clearly at work.
Deep down most of us feel this – though we often leave to crazy, extremist conspiracy theorists to believe and express these ideas on our behalf. What I normally do is have a short ponder about these ideas, then sigh, get up and get on with my life. It’s just easier that way. But deep down most of us know there is more going on than we’d like to admit.
The names we most often give these powers are ‘the system’. The ‘status quo’. The ‘establishment’.
We know who they are. But at once, we have no idea. Their face is masked to us. We see them only through eyes trained on us. You don’t need to be a conspiracy theorist (and I’m not one) to know there is more going on in the world than meets the eye.
No one is allowed the buck the system for long. They cannot. Occasionally one may break through, but they are soon crushed.
Either they or their reputation are destroyed. Killed.
In fiction, we see this in Jay Gatsby. A visionary dreamer, almost a fantasist, who for the sake of love and an idealistic dream, bucks the system and becomes ‘new money’. Equal with the establishment. Equal with those who have been rich and powerful for generations. The cost is him becoming a criminal. A bootlegger.
What happens? A madman, provoked by an establishment figure, “old money”, comes and kills him.
Have we not seen this model anywhere else?
JFK?
MLK?
Men committed to radical change, but who the ones with the ‘real’ power could not tolerate. So they used their power to destroy them.
The daring insurrectionist is put down. Forgotten. Dismissed. Trampled like an ant.
2000 years ago the religious establishment were threatened by a visionary. A dreamer. A man who talked about a better way of living. About a new kingdom. Where all which was past would be wiped away.
And this unseen, yet known system comes again. And kills him. Rome sees this man as too much of a threat, the possible cause of an uprising. So they trample him. Squash him.
But what happens?
What often happens when these forces of insurrection and hope are killed?
It only gives them more power.
Three days later the body is gone. In the next 40 days 500 people say they have seen this man alive. His followers claim he is resurrected.
And 2000 years later, the story, and his message, are still alive. In fact, so much so that in some places they became assimilated with the establishment itself. And to such a degree they distort it’s message, they protect what they deem to be the ‘right’ message.
Often to the hindrance to it’s true message.
Jesus vision was not to create another establishment. Not create another religion. It was to institute a grander vision for humanity. To show us what it is to be human. (you can tweet that here)
Jesus showed us we all have power to change the world. These ‘principalities and powers’ which existed then, still exist now and will probably always exist. And they will always try to crush people who try to overcome them. But this doesn’t mean they always win.
“Hope dies last” someone once wrote. And I get their point.
But here’s something more radical. I say hope never dies. There is always hope.
All of us do have the power to change the world. The way of love, justice, grace, forgiveness, mercy and truth – the way of Jesus – is the only way to be human. And ultimately nothing – not even death itself – can subdue it.
Let us obey the radical command to put others before ourselves. To give up power rather than seek it out. To be truthful about our brokenness, weakness and insecurity. To love and forgive the people deemed unloveable and unforgiveable.
And to dare to believe there is always hope.
There is always light. Sunday always follows Friday.
Hope never dies.
Are you with me?
Do you ever reflect on unseen forces at work in the world?
What does the life, death & resurrection of Jesus tell us about how we can make a difference in the world?
I believe for me hope never dies, but for some they lose hope. I’m reminded of the verse, “Without hope the people perish.” Proverbs 29:18.
Recently my son shared about when he attempted suicide. He asked his dad if he could also share his story, as well as his grandfather’s story. A man my son didn’t get to meet. A man who lost hope and perished.
For those of us who know the Lord personally, there is always hope, but for some, they lose sight.
Anne there is always hope. We may not see it. But it’s there. We also need to be reminded of hope, of hopeful stories so that we can have our hope grow. That is why it’s so important to share our stories of pain and struggle so that others know they are not alone. Knowing I’m not the only one who is struggling and in pain gives me hope. It gives me a sense of community. I also know that Jesus suffered so He understands any pain and suffering I go through.
Absolutely Troy – hope is always there, whether we know it or not, and sharing our stories encourages one another and gives life to more hope. Thanks for your comment.
I agree with you Anne – we can lose hope. But hope is always there to be reclaimed. There is never a lack of hope if we choose to cling to it. I know people who have lost hope – I have myself at times – but hope always comes back. It never dies.
amen, james. hope never dies. so long as we breathe and have the capacity to choose, hope will never die. but like much in life – we must choose to not give up hope. we must choose to not let it die.
good, life-giving words, my friend. cheers!
Thanks Tim, really glad the post spoke to you & glad it encouraged you. Thanks for commenting. 🙂
Well said, James. Hope is eternal. We have hope in this life and for the life to come. In the here and now there is hope of seeing change even as we live with challenging or painful circumstances. Our faith is grounded in biblical promises that rely on hope as well as faith to believe they will come to pass. The encouragement of hearing and sharing one another’s stories is what gives us hope and every expectation that fulfilment can be true for us too. If the Lord of all hope lives in us by His Spirit then we always have hope to hold on to. Encouraging words. Thank you 🙂
Thanks for commenting Joy, totally agree with you. Thanks again for continually encouraging me, you are such a blessing to me and others. Be blessed! 🙂
Yes, James, I agree there is always hope. If hope is lost, what do we have to look forward to or rely upon? Hope is the foundation of my faith, that He who died for me is always by my side, always has my back, cares for me in the good and the bad, and even when the bad is almost unbearable, He wraps His loving arms around me to comfort me until I can begin to try and understand. And these are the stories we need to share — our moments of despair or extreme sadness where those arms gave us back the hope we thought we’d lost. Encouragement and love, and yes, the truth that hope still lives on.
Thanks for your comment Sherrey, really appreciate it and glad the post resonated with you. Totally agree with your comments, thanks.
Great article James; thanks for sharing.
As someone who has always felt ill at ease with the ‘status quo’ and just never imagined myself fitting into this world, I completely relate to what you’re saying. Recently I lost my job, and as a result re-evaluated things and realized that I’ve been trying for years to just live a ‘normal’ conformist 9-5 existence that was killing my soul and making me miserable.
I have big dreams and hopes of a different, better life. Sometimes I grow despondent about them and doubt they’ll ever happen, but I believe and trust that God has given me these dreams. And I believe that, somehow, He will make them happen.
The hope will never die. 🙂
Thanks for commenting Andrew & sheath so honestly about your experience. Glad the post encouraged you, hope you find a new job soon & God gives you a fresh vision.
Hope is the thing with feathers, That perches on the soul – Emily Dickinson. But, that’s man’s hope. My hope is built on nothing less, than Jesus’ blood and righteousness. You are right, James. That’s the kind that never dies.
Thanks for your comment Shelley – and that’s a great quote you share as well. Really appreciate it.
[…] is a word which gets lot of leverage. I even wrote about it myself last week. It’s more than a word. It’s more than a feeling. It’s deep in our soul. Under […]
Hi, I am from Australia.
Of course the real question here is the meaning & significance of death – or what death really requires of us in each moment.
Please check out:
http://www.easydeathbook.com/purpose.asp
http://www.aboutadidam.org/dying_death_and_beyond/index.html
On the nature of Reality and/or the “Kingdom” of God, and how to live Right Life
http://www.dabase.org/up-5-3.htm
http://www.consciousnessitself.org
http://www.adidam.org/teaching/aletheon/truth-life