The Cry of Hope

Romans 8:18–24 NLT

18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. 22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. 24 We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it.

I want to talk to you about the hope of Christ’s coming.

This is the season of Advent. Advent comes from the Latin, adventus which means, “coming.”

For centuries this season has been one where followers of Christ prepared for His coming (we have records of its practice since at least 380 A.D.).

Even before then God’s people Israel were waiting for the Messiah (Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6-7, Micah 5:2). They were waiting for the coming Savior who would make all things new (Revelation 21:5, 2 Peter 3:13).

And because God loved the world and His people, He sent Jesus (John 3:16). And that is what this season is a reminder of. But not only that but of a second coming. Jesus ascended to the right hand of God the Father and makes intercession for us even now (Mark 16:19, Romans 8:34). He still loves the world and in His patient kindness He has appointed a time of grace that people might be saved before judgment comes (2 Peter 3:9).

Hebrews 9:27–28 TPT

27 Every human being is appointed to die once, and then to face God’s judgment. 28 But when we die we will be face-to-face with Christ, the One who experienced death once for all to bear the sins of many! And now to those who eagerly await him, he will appear a second time; not to deal with sin, but to bring us the fullness of salvation.

This waiting in hope is something that every believer has done since the disciples heard the words of the angels:

Acts 1:11 NKJV

who also said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

It’s been nearly 2000 years that the church has been waiting on the return of the Lord. It’s been centuries of hopeful expectation that God is going to come back in righteous judgment and make all things right. For some of us, that’s part of the problem.

If we look around, it is easy to be overwhelmed by hopelessness at the state of the world. It’s easy to recognize the source of our problems as sin. Hatred. Unrighteousness. Injustice. Pain. Sorrow. Death.

I’d expect that each of us have had moments where we just want something better in our lives. We want justice. We want things to be right. We want peace and we want joy.

We want heaven to come and God’s will to be done because sometimes this world feels like it is a type of hell (Matthew 6:10). And sometimes it feels like God may never come back.

But we know that the Lord is coming back, just as He promised (John 14:1-4). We just do not know when. We only know that when He comes, it will be suddenly.

2 Peter 3:10 NKJV

But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

This delay and the sufferings that accompany life can make it hard to hope.

But when we remember that the Lord is coming and that when He does He will bring righteousness and justice, prosperity and peace, we will find our refuge in hope and have an expectation of good things ahead (Jeremiah 23:5-6).

Hope is a Posture of Faith

The Spirit tells us that the world is going to get darker and more dysfunctional before the Lord returns (2 Timothy 3:13, Isaiah 60:1-5).

We could adopt that posture of the world, where we obsess about what is wrong and embrace the hopelessness of the status quo but we know that would not change anything.

We need to learn to look towards the future with hope and readiness. This is what Advent speaks to. Judgment is coming and salvation is coming. All things will be made right…tears will be wiped away and our sins, and the sting of sin, we will remember no more (Revelation 21:3-5).

Hope is a posture of faith (cf. Hebrews 11:1). It is in this season of Advent where we join with all of the saints since the ascension of Jesus who have looked back at the coming of Christ on that first Christmas and forward to His return.

Finding Hope

As we reflect on this Advent season I’d like to point out three things about hope that we can hold fast to.

Hope is Shown in Suffering

Romans 8:18–21 NLT

18 Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later. 19 For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. 20 Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, 21 the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay.

Hope shines brightest in contrast to the darkness. Without the disparity between what is and what should be we would not notice.

Because of the impact and effect of sin around us—all the loss and grief and sorrow—we inwardly yearn for another way and a better place.

This present darkness should remind us that the world is fallen. It should provoke us to live with that in mind so that we will not accept, or even worse embrace, the world as it is.

We will endure suffering armed with hope. Because we know that the time is short and the world and its way is perishing, we live differently, even when it is difficult (1 Corinthians 7:29-31, 1 John 2:17).

Illustration: We suffered in boot camp in order to hopefully earn the title. We endured because we knew something better was coming.

Creation became subject to the curse because of sin. But someday it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. When Christ returns and we are glorified in Him all things will be made new.

We may suffer now but that reminds us that judgment is coming and Christ is coming. If we endure until the end, holding fast to hope, we shall be saved (Matthew 24:13). Therefore, hold fast to hope!

Hope is Stirred by the Spirit

Romans 8:22–23 NLT

22 For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.

The presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives is a foretaste of future glory. The indwelling, persistent, presence of God walking with us and leading us and sanctifying us is a guarantee of a new life in God (John 14:17, 1 Peter 1:2, 2 Corinthians 1:22-23).

The more we abide in God’s Spirit and follow His leading in our lives the more we will be strengthened in hope (cf. Romans 8:14). When you experience the righteousness, peace and joy of God in the Spirit you long for the fullness of God’s kingdom to come (Romans 14:17). His presence in our lives prepares us for the time when that which is corrupt puts on incorruption and that which is mortal puts on immortality and death is swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:53-54).

Illustration: Cinnabon in the mall. The smell reminds you of the real thing. It calls you to the real thing. It is evidence that there is something good waiting for you.

In this season allow your hope to be stirred by the Spirit of God.

Hope is Satisfied in Salvation

Romans 8:23–25 NLT

23 And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We, too, wait with eager hope for the day when God will give us our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us. 24 We were given this hope when we were saved. (If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. 25 But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently.)

True hope was born when Christ came in a manger. It will be completed, satisfied, when He comes again.

Living in this hope begins with receiving Christ. It begins with trusting Him. It begins with receiving the good news that our sins are forgiven in Christ and on the cross He faced death and in His resurrection He defeated it. Because He lives, those who trust in Him live also (John 6:57, John 14:19).

Living in hope continues in living ready for His return. The posture of Advent is a hopeful expectation that He is coming back to make all things new.

Illustration: When kids are little, expectation and excitement of opening presents on Christmas morning.

In this season it is worth remembering that there will be a day where all things will work together for good in your life and that God will be glorified for His wisdom and kindness and compassion (Romans 8:28).

In that day, our salvation will be complete.

Conclusion

As we continue over the next few weeks towards Christmas it is important that we remember what this season is about.

It is important that we hold fast to hope. Hope is shown in the face of suffering. It is something that enables us to resist and persist and overcome.

Through the Spirit our hope is stirred. His presence in our life is the promise of a future eternity without sin and corruption in the presence of our God and King.

Though we have to be patient and endure, ultimately our hope will be satisfied in salvation.

Revelation 22:20 NKJV

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!