Thought for the Week: What is hope?

The answer is, not all hopes are equal. Suppose you have a rowing boat and decide to take it for some early morning fishing. Dawn breaks, you launch and head for the middle of the loch; it’s calm, the forecast is good. But as you turn to reach the fishing gear, somehow you lose your balance, the boat tips, capsizes and sinks.

What are you feeling as the cold water grips you? Shock and fear to begin with, but as initial panic subsides, you begin to hope. It’s little more than wishful thinking but perhaps someone has seen. 

Time passes, hope fades. But unknown to you, someone has seen, they’ve alerted the coastguard, help is on the way. 

Suddenly you see it, an orange boat moving across the loch, your heart misses a beat and then in an instant, as you see the lifeboat turn and the crew waving, wishful thinking is transformed. You now have certain hope, you will be saved.     

This is the Christian hope. God has seen and sent His rescuer into human history, Jesus the rescuer has conquered death. He’s alive. Essentially, the bible is about Him. Why not read it and meet Him today?

Reverend Mark Jasper, Campbeltown Community Church.