hope

We just started our annual "At the Movies" series at Six Points and it gives us a chance to use films to help tell the Biblical story in a new and hopefully fun way.
 
My favorite movie has always been a toss up between Hoosiers (which I wore out multiple copies of growing up) and Shawshank Redemption.  I likely don't need to tell you much about Hoosiers as I think it's required viewing for all who live in our great state; but maybe some of you haven't seen The Shawshank Redemption.  
 
Shawshank is the story of Andy Dufresne who is convicted for the murder of his wife, but is innocent.  Inside Shawshank prison he is beaten and assaulted; but also does make some close friends who help keep him going.   He keeps himself busy reading, but also slowly digging through a cement wall each night in a plan to free himself and make it to Mexico.  The movie ends with a powerful line that always gets my goosebumps going, "I hope I can make it across the border.  I hope the pacific is as blue as it is in my dreams.  I hope I get to see my friend.  I hope..."  
 
It is this hope of freedom that keeps Andy going through all those terrible moments in prison.  Hope, it turns out, is a powerful thing.
 
in Romans 5 we are told of the hope we have in Christ, which is even more powerful than Andy's hope in freedom or friendship.  Paul says, "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.  And we boast in the hope of the glory of our God.  Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character and character, hope.  And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts"
 
So no matter how dark or long the night may seem or how large or scary the storms of this world may blow; we have hope in our God.  We may have to endure and persevere through; but we know we are not alone.  
 
I hope to walk upon the streets of gold one day.  I hope to hold the hand of Jesus.  I hope to see my grandparents again.  I hope...and this hope, doesn't put us to shame because we have God's love in our hearts!


In Christ,
Pastor Scott