Sunday, September 18, 2011

The Story Ends Well

I've been thinking a lot about hope lately.  Can't really say that it was totally by choice.  When my life took an unexpected turn just over 5 months ago, I was forced to think about if what I said I believed really was true... and I have never been the same since that moment.  Like an anchor to a ship in stormy seas, the hope of heaven has kept me in place amidst one of life's greatest tempests.  That doesn't mean I haven't been shaken.  That doesn't mean I haven't doubted or wanted to give up at times.  But it does mean that I have not despaired, because this isn't the end of my story.

In this morning's sermon, Pastor Coffey preached about a living hope.  I Peter 1:3-7 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  According to His great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.  In this you rejoice, through now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith -more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire- may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ."  Joe's summary of the passage was something to the effect of "the story ends well."  Upon hearing this, my heart leaped and I wanted to start cheering!  That is exactly what I have been trying to articulate in every blog entry leading up to this point; I've just rambled and fumbled around different ways of saying it.  In my understanding, this is what it is all about for those who claim to know Christ.  Jesus' resurrection and victory over death sealed the deal and now our future is set.  Safe.  Secure.  Guaranteed.  That is more than enough to completely upend your perspective and way of living.  And it is so contagious to this hopeless world that is desperately scratching and clawing for something to cling to.

God made this world very good, but we fell very far from His original intentions.  In this sad state, there is some pretty rough stuff that can happen.  The most tragic things that the world could possible throw at us like murder, disease, rape, death, or or all kinds of injustice are enough to derail some people for good.  But when you have living hope, you can still bless His name... because the story ends well.  When you have living hope, you can continue to find purpose in your life, despite unspeakable pain... because the story ends well.  When you have living hope, you continue to read, even if this particular chapter is gloomy... because the story ends well.      

We know that the story ends well because God has promised it in His word and because Jesus validated it through His death and resurrection.  Everybody loves a good story that is full of drama, plots twists, and victory, but it's hard when you're the main character.  Rest in the assurance that God is a brilliant author.  He is writing a completely unique masterpiece in and through your life that will result in His praise and glory.  I only pray that when all of this takes place, my story was one in which hope emanated from every single chapter.

This particular chapter in my life has been a difficult one to soldier through; it's entitled "Hodgkin's Lymphoma."  But I'm excited to keep reading because I looked ahead to the last chapter... it's called "Jesus Wins."

Excited to Keep Reading,

MH 

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