A vision of hope

Kia ora whānau,

This Sunday we looked at Revelations 7:9-17, an end-times passage centered on a vast multitude of people worshipping God. In this revelation from John the Apostle, we see an image of a countless group from every nation, tribe, and language. It’s a fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham that his descendants would outnumber the stars and sand. And, it's a conclusion of Jesus’s command to go and make disciples of all nations. For the original hearers of John’s revelation, this image would be received as a picture of hope for those in crisis because of persecution.

In the current world climate we face crisis ourselves. In this part of the world we may not be fearing for our lives in the midst of persecution, but it’s been and continues to be a hard year. This year we have faced what we did not expect. We’ve found that though we may plan, it may all be cancelled. We’ve found we can make goals, but those may not be accomplished. If plans and goals can all be discarded in the midst of crisis, what remains unshaken?

The picture of the diverse multitude in unity and worship is our vision of hope. It’s a supernatural picture of an eternal reality. In the face of disappointment, loss, and fear we need something we can hold onto that won’t slip through our fingers. It needs to be something real and founded in truth that is not altered by social media, fake news, or cultural bias. And yet, this vision of hope isn’t just for the future; it is a challenge for the present. We’re given a chance to worship alongside people from other nations, tribes, and languages. We’re asked to be a unified community of God’s people. We’re being invited to be a vision of hope for the hopeless world around us. Will we let go of fear and step up to the challenge?

This present challenge requires intention. In the midst of the ongoing crisis we can choose to make plans and create goals that move us in the direction of being people of hope. Holding those plans and goals with open hands will allow us to seek God’s direction and live by faith when circumstances change. Fixing our eyes on the vision of an eternal reality gives us a stable foundation of hope during shaky times.

In Christ,

Wendy