The Power of Hope in the Face of Mortality
As humans, we are wired to live on hope. Our anticipation of what’s to come drives us forward, giving life its vibrancy and purpose. But what happens when the light of hope flickers out? Life shrinks to mere existence, a shadow of what it was meant to be.
I recall a brilliant educator, Bill, who had lost his faith and become a Buddhist. Decades later, I learned that he had withered away, waiting for the end, devoid of hope. Buddhism, as we know, does not beget hope. This stark reality raises questions about the best we can hope for in life.
The Human Experience: A Life of Hope
Alexander Pope declared, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast.” Indeed, spontaneous hope propels us forward in the first half of life. We hope for a fulfilling career, a loving family, and a comfortable life. However, as we age, we realize that many of our aspirations remain unfulfilled, and the rest are beyond our grasp.
Secular social theory struggles to provide answers to the question of whether a better, more enriching experience of old age is possible. The Bible, however, offers a unique perspective on hope – not as optimistic whistling in the dark but as certainty about what’s to come because God has promised it.
A Destiny Beyond This World
The Bible speaks directly to the question of what we may hope for, setting before us a destiny that reaches beyond this world to a kaleidoscope of wonders, enrichments, and delights. This destiny is big and exciting, and the New Testament writers felt it to be so.
In 2 Corinthians 5:1-8, Paul sets before us a picture of our hope, counteracting the bleakness of mortality. He describes a better body to come, one that is permanent and of higher quality. This new “house” is not made with hands but is eternal in the heavens.
The Transformation of Our Bodies
Paul’s metaphors may be mixed and blurry, but the basic meaning is clear: God’s work of putting us into our resurrection bodies will be enriching, not impoverishing. It will feel fulfilling, not frustrating. We will be “further clothed” by what God is doing to us, and our mortality will be swallowed up by life.
A Glimpse of What’s to Come
While we cannot fully comprehend the transformation that awaits us, we can be certain that it will be perfect. In our resurrection bodies, everything will work perfectly, and nothing will malfunction. We will recognize each other and have joy in that knowledge.
The Climax of Our Hope
Paul expresses the contrast between our ongoing life of faith in Christ in this world and our promised future life of seeing him and being forever close to him. He assures us that Jesus will meet us in the process of transition out of the body into the next world, and His face will be the first thing we become aware of.
Sustained by Hope
This hope sustains us as we grow older and our weaknesses increase. May we always be of good courage, looking forward to the day when we will be at home with the Lord. As Paul says, “Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”
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