In our Judeo-Christian writings, we have a book called Job. Job is considered to be a good and faithful servant—the best servant—of God. Through a series of experiences where God allows a member of God’s divine council to torture Job, he has lost everything. (For those of you who know the story, you have read the name Satan as the one who takes everything from Job. Satan in this story is not the same as later Christian literature, but here acts as God’s eyes and ears on earth as part of the council.) As the story goes, Job has lost his sons and daughter and farm animals and barns. There is bad theology here that we will overlook for now. Suffice it to say, the prosperity gospel is not the point here— and probably never should be.
Job has three friends with names difficult to pronounce. They come to question him as he sits on a dung heap, mostly naked, covered in sores. Job is a bit testy and argues with them as they suggest he has done something to God for which he needs forgiveness. Job has not done anything wrong. God even says so. In one of these responses found in chapter 17, Job asks, “Where then is my hope? Who will see my hope?” He has just admitted his spirit is broken and the grave is ready for him.
There is a definite lack of hope in this world. Politics. Violence. War. Social Media. Family dinner conversations. Stop sign interactions. Not always hopeful. We, too, feel broken.
John Pavlovitz has a book called “Hope and Other Superpowers. He writes this “…isn’t a self-help book—it’s a life-affirming, love-defending, butt-kicking manifesto, a rallying cry for an unwavering joyful revolution that we get to set into motion. It is a personalized guide to being a better human being, creating a more meaningful life, and building a better planet in the process. It is…a crystallizing of our inner convictions, and an amplifying of our voices—empowering us to work together for as long as it takes for the world that should be to become the world that is.
Pavlovitz suggests that when we live in hope, we are like super heroes. Then he shares many examples of people who bring hope to the world.
Isn’t that the work of the faithful? To bring Hope? For those of us who claim Jesus, isn’t that what he did? Didn’t he bring life out of death moments—and not just at the resurrection? Like him, Jesus followers are called to be hope in this world.
Where then is our hope? Who will see our hope? Our hope is in God, maker of heaven and earth. And if we hold on to God, ALL will see hope through us. Kind of like a super hero.
Peace. And. Hope.
Kelly Ingersoll, Minister
Kelly Ingersoll is the Pastor of First Christian Church of Macomb and resides in Macomb with his wife Anne.
