Michael Kelley, Guest Contributor
“Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint
Isaiah 40:30-31
“In Christ alone, my hope is found…”
So begins the hymn “In Christ Alone,” one of the most popular worship songs in the faith over the last two decades. The song walks us through the gospel story, reminding us that the believer can have a sure and certain hope in Christ because of His death and resurrection.
So, why do we continue to place our hope elsewhere? Some place their hope in political leaders. Or we might hope for a change of circumstances. We tell ourselves that things would be much better if we made a little more money, had a little more freedom, or didn’t have to report to our current boss. And while there might be an element of truth, ultimately, we cannot place our hope in a change of circumstance either.
Ultimately, Jesus is the only thing in the universe sustaining our hope. He’s the only One strong enough to hold it.
A little illustration might help:
In high school, my physics class was assigned a project that was not unique to our school. We were given limited materials, mainly Popsicle sticks and wood glue, and were instructed to build a bridge with specific parameters. On the appointed day, we all brought our bridges to class, and they were placed over a gap between two desks. Then, small weights were systematically hung to the bottom of the bridges to test and see how much weight they could bear. Of course, the most incredible thrill wasn’t just winning the sturdiest bridge but watching as structure after structure was eventually obliterated under the increasing weight.
The weights weren’t added all at once; they were added slowly. One at a time. And they were added knowing that eventually, every bridge would reach its capacity and crumble. No one thought we could do something like stand on top of the bridge; though we didn’t know how much, we knew they would be destroyed under far less weight than one person’s. These structures weren’t made to support that kind of mass.
When we place our hope on anything in this world – our circumstances, our leaders, our bank accounts, our relationships – it’s like hanging weights on the bottom of them. Eventually, they will crack under pressure.
Every. Single. Time.
Like bridges in high school physics class, they all eventually sag and break under pressure. These things were simply not designed to bear the weight of our hope.
But Jesus? Jesus is strong enough to bear it. He is the One who never disappoints.
Indeed, when we place our hope in Christ and Him alone, He will never let us fall.
DIG DEEPER
Read “Hope That is Built on Things Eternal” by George Wright
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA
