Seven words. Seven words that introduce the royal daughter, the future general, the heart throb of many a young males decades ago. (1977, A New Hope, But IYKYK) Seven words that are imbedded in culture then … and now.
These seven words recorded into a trash-can sized droid that speak of desperation, hopelessness and one on the edge of defeat. The ruler of darkness, the evil Sith apprentice – Darth Vader – was about to capture her.
Two things pop into my muddied mind – Christmas and life in general.
First – Christmas …
2000 years ago, a nation was desperate. They were enslaved. Humiliated as a nation and as individuals. They were God’s Chosen People but for 400 years, it seems God had remained silent – no prophet/God’s spokesperson, no new revelation, nothing. Rome gets stronger. Israel was flandering in the wind. It was as if they were crying, “Help us O Lord, You’re our only hope.”
Here’s the irony. Yes, God was their only hope, but God had not abandoned them. God had not given up on them. The desperation they felt was not the reality – for He already had the plan in place – a plan that had been in place before man ever set foot on this rotating globe we call home.
His plan – not a new hope – but real hope. And Hope, it has a name. And that name is Jesus. He sent the hope – but not in the way they thought. He sent the hope, not as warrior, a physical power to overthrow Rome, nor as a political power that would sit on a throne made by man. He would come humbly, lowly, and amongst barn animals … whose first bed was a feeding trough lined with hay.
Christmas is more than gift exchanges, lights, trees, nor Nana’s getting run over by cloven animals. It is amazing that the first week of Advent is about Hope. Real Hope.
Second – Life …
Do you ever feel life is using you as batting practice? That you’re walking through life stuck in the middle of a field of landmines? Or everyone and everything is just overwhelming? Get in line; we all have these feelings at times – some more than others.
The good news of Christmas is the good news of today. We have help … that has overcome the power of darkness, the sting of death, and the bane of the curse upon mankind. He gives peace in our turmoil – healing in our suffering – and freedom in our bondage.
He will come again. And this time, with a final act of redemption, the rescue will be complete, the renewal of creation will be amazing.
You see, our only hope is not in our bank account, a person sitting in the West Wing, the newest gadget out of Apple, or the doctor we trust. Our only real hope is Jesus.
Do you know this Hope? Do you know Jesus? (DM me if I can share some more with you about this hope!) It’s important. Eternally important.
Muddy Shoes by Todd 
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