Advent Hope

The world around us

When I think about the world around us, it strikes me that we are faced with a number of contradictions.

For example, technology that allows easy communication is better than it has ever been, and yet we’ve seemed to lose the art of actually communicating with one another.

We have this thing called social media which in theory you might think would make social connections better, and yet we are more isolated than ever.

We’ve become more socially aware of the injustices in the world, such as racism, sexism, actually, all forms of discrimination… we’ve also become more aware of the damage we’re causing to the environment, and yet, in our endeavour to right some of these wrongs, we’ve formed this thing that we sometimes call ‘woke’ where there seems to be a subversive push to bring people into line with a very particular way of thinking.

As a society, we know the detrimental effects of excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and gambling addictions, and yet (here’s the contradiction), for every effort to curbs these issues, we seem to celebrate and promote them. We make heros out of people who can drink excessive amounts, and we make gambling the only way to enjoy sports.

But the contradictions keep coming. Our economy keeps growing. Did you know, that with the exception of a recession during the height of the Covid pandemic, Australia has not had a recession since the 1990’s. But here’s the apparent contradiction... our economy keeps growing, yet it seems to be getting harder and harder to get by. The cost of housing is getting more and more out of reach… even to rent a very modest house costs can start to get somewhere in the vicinty of half the wage of an average adult.

How is it for all the improvements we make as a society, we still manage to go backwards?

We outlaw slavery, and yet by some counts, we actually have more slavery than ever.

We had the war to end all wars, and yet I’ve recently seen one count that suggests that there are currently 92 countries involved in conflict beyond their borders. That figure might need fact checking, but it’s clear, World War II was not the war to end all wars.

You can paint a picture to show improvements in this world of ours, but scatch just a little below the surface, and we all know that this world is full of problems.

We can sometimes ignore it. Some choose to just not watch the news at night. But it’s still there, and it can really weigh us down.

It’s with the weight of this, that we come into the period of advent desperate for hope.

So, as we enter this period, let’s explore the hope that Christianity offers.

Now, here’s the thing… some of the specifics of the issues I just listed might be unique to our time and place, but the truth is, there’s nothing new under the sun. The same basic problem has always been there. We make a bit of progress, but still manage to make a mess of things.

Isaiah context

So let me take you back to a point in time where we can see something similar happening.

It’s the eighth century BC, and Isaiah has started prophesying to the people of Israel.

So, by this time, it’s been roughly 300 years since the highs of King David. The reign of King David was somewhat of a high point in the history of Israel, but unfortunately it didn’t last and things took some nasty turns in the wrong direction. The kingdom divided. They lost some of their land. They had some really bad kings.

However, as we come to this time of the prophet Isaiah, we get this situation a bit like I was describing today. Progress is being made, yet things are getting worse.

You see, economically, they started to do well. The territory that they lost to foreign nations, well, they start to regain this land. A politician at that point in time would have no trouble painting a rosy picture of what is happening.

Except, morally they were bankrupt. The rich were getting richer while the poor were getting poorer, and there was little regard for the vulnerable in society.

Kind of sounds familiar doesn’t it?

If you want to get a feel for what it was like, have a read of the first chapter of the book of Isaiah. This prophet doesn’t hold back and he describes it like it is. Economically and politically, there might have been progress, but things are not good.

Now, all this wickedness is leading to a devastating outcome. If we were to read through the book of Isaiah, we would see how Isaiah prophesies how a Assyria from the North are going to wipe out the Northern Kingdom - something that we know did indeed happen.

For any Israelite at the time, if they cared to think about it, would have been filled with dread at the prospect of where things were headed.

They would have been desperate for something to cling to for hope. A bit like where we are now. A world that is headed in a bad direction, and we just want something to cling to.

But there is a very interesting thing that happens in the book of Isaiah.

You see, the first chapter really rips into them. He says they brood of evil doers. He reminds them of how they are actually having their fields stripped by foreigners. He tells them their religious observance is worthless.

But, while the original hearers of this message might have been filled with terror, the first five verses of chapter 2 suddenly gives a very different picture - a picture of hope!

Many of the other prophets seem to add their picture of hope at the end of what they have to say, but Isaiah includes this very early in his piece.

You get the impression he’s saying: look, the direction of things is bad, and things are actually going to get worse first - but know this, God hasn’t lost control… there is an end point to all of this… and it is good!

The moutain of the Lord

So let’s have a look at the vision Isaiah describes at the start of chapter 2 of Isaiah.

It starts with the declaration that the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains.

Now, the temple in Jerusalem sits on top of Temple Mount, which is also called Mount Moriah.

That being said, it is also referred to as Mount Zion. This title is particularly used when the religious significance of the site is being emphasized.

But if we look at the actual mountain today, we know that the height of it is recorded as 772m above sea level, which just to put in persective, isn’t even as tall as the mountains in the Barrington Tops.

So, when it says in verse 2, that this mountain is going to be established as the highest of the mountains, I don’t think we need to assume Jerusalem is suddenly going to shoot up to a height greater than that of Mount Everest.

This is less about physical height, and more about a certain quality about the place that will attract people.

You see, verse 2 goes on to say: “it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it”.

Now, just to see this in context, we’ve quickly gone from describing how bad Israel is, to describing how it’s going to be the place people want to be.

And in this vision that Isaiah sees, we get to hear what the people are thinking and saying.

The reason people want to go there is because they see it as a better way. They see a better kind of law coming from this place - not another man made law, but a law coming from God.

This see justice coming from this place. A justice that will actually be able to settle disputes.

In this vision, there are no more wars.

Listen to these words - you might even recognise them as words spoken at some of our war memorial ceremonies… “Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war any more”.

Now, hopefully it goes without saying, but this is not a current picture of the modern nation of Israel.

I’m not trying to get into the debate of where the modern nation of Israel fit in the end time prophecies, I’m just saying that currently, these verses do not describe them.

What these verses do describe, are a restoration. They describe things being as they should.

I’ve often talked about the concept of shalom. That’s the Hebrew word that is usually translated as peace, but means so much more. It means completness. The totality of all things being in God’s design.

These verses point to shalom.

Remember, these verses come straight after Israel just got a roasting… but God’s saying, don’t lose hope, restoration will happen.

Our hope

Now, as I’ve just discussed, we know that this picture given to us here in chapter 2 has not yet been fulfilled. This is a promise that still stands.

And it’s a promise that should still give us hope today.

So let’s think about our situation. I described at the start how despite all of the progress we make, we somehow seem to go backwards. Well, before I give you hope, let me suggest that things are probably going to get worse first. Later in the season of advent, we’ll explore that even though it gets worse, we have Jesus with us now to get through, but for today, I want to focus on the ultimate hope we have. The hope that restoration is still coming.

I’m talking about the fact that Jesus is coming again.

You see, while the original hearers of Isaiah’s prophecy might not have realised that a Messiah was to first come, establish a new kingdom, establish a way into that kingdom, and then leave after establishing his church, only to return a second time… but we know now that what is being described in Isaiah 2 is what is going to happen when Jesus returns.

When Jesus returns, everything will change.

Jesus talks about his return in Matthew 24.

He tells us that it is going to come on an unknown day - in fact, he even tells us that no one, not even the angels in heaven nor the Son, but only the Father knowns the date.

He then likens the coming to the days of Noah where people were eating, drinking and marrying right up to the day everything changes. But then there is this suddeness in which everything changes.

This hope is coming, but until that day when Jesus returns we just have to remain ready.

In fact, that is the message we really need to hear. Matt 24:44 says: “So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him”.

You know, if we go back to Isaiah telling the wicked Israelites that there is hope, the intention was not to say, well… just keep doing what you’re doing, it doesn’t really matter because it will all work out in the end. Rather the message was, there’s a future hope, so you can start to live like that now.

In fact, that is exactly what verse 5 said in Isaiah 2. After Isaiah gave that vision of a mountain that people will stream to, he ends with “Come, descdendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord”.

Invitation

You see, here’s the thing… this ultimate hope is there, but the reality is, you need to be ready.

Now, we can think of this hope as getting an inheritance. In one sense, an inheritance is not something you earn, you just receive it by virtue of being a child of the person who the inheritance is coming from.

This hope we have is a hope for those who belong to God. The great news is, God has many adopted children. In fact he gives us the free invitation to be adopted into his family. All you have to do is accept the invitation.

So, what does it mean to be ready for the hope. At the most basic level, it means accepting the invitation to belong to God’s family.

Now I know that many of you here have already accepted that invitation. For some of you, maybe you’re either yet to make that decision, or maybe you are not quite sure.

If this is you, can you please reach out to me, or to another trusted believer.

If you don’t,the reality is, this hope that I’ve been talking about… well… you’re effectively rejecting it. It’s almost as if you’re only hope is that somehow humanity is going to figure it out and start restoring things by it’s own strength. Unfortunately as we’ve already explored, we might be pretty good as a human race in terms of making technological progress, but we’re actually not very good at making this a better place.

You can reject the offer God has given you if you like, but the alternative is not very attractive.

Now, for those of you who have already accepted this invitation, can I suggest that you don’t need to wait till the return of Jesus to start living like a restored people.

We’ve actually got the good law that comes out of Zion now. We’ve got the ability to settle disputes.

Our salvation might not come from our actions, yet if we’ve become part of the people of God that are going to be part of this glorious future, why not live like it now. Yes the world around us is going to continue to deteriorate, but the people of God have the Spirit which enables them to not suffer the same fate.

Conclusion

As we move into this period of Advent, I want to start by giving you hope.

We certainly all need it.

The world can be quite depressing, but yet we don’t give up, because God has given us a glimpse of the end.

The Israelites at the time of Isaiah needed hope. As much as progress was being made, they actually knew things were looking pretty bleak.

And it was. They did end up being wiped out by a foreign nation, and even though there was a moment of hope when the Southern Kingdom was allowed out of exile, they never really recovered. Israel might have been able to live on their land, but there was always foreign nations that had the real control. Interestingly that was until 1948 when the modern nation of Israel were given control. But as I’ve already explored, while there may be significance in that, the actual ultimate hope is yet to come.

The ultimate hope we have, is in the return of Jesus.

This is what advent is… the coming of Jesus..

And so, as I’ve already said, I want to start advent with giving you the invitation to be part of the family of God where you can be part of the ultimate hope we have. The hope of a final restoration.

Are you going to accept that invitation?

Let me pray...