JEREMIAH 29:11; JOHN 1:1-4 | “A THRILL OF HOPE…”

“A THRILL OF HOPE…”

JEREMIAH 29:11

JOHN 1:1-4

YOU MAY HAVE SEEN THE STORY A COUPLE WEEKS AGO WHERE A WOMAN, FOR SOME UNKNOWN REASON, UNTRAINED IN SIGN LANGUAGE, MANAGED TO VOLUNTEER AT THE ANNOUNCEMENT ABOUT THE ARREST OF A SERIAL KILLER IN SEMINOLE HEIGHTS, FL, AND WAS SIGNING NOTHING BUT GIBBERISH TO THOSE IN THE DEAF COMMUNITY.

ONE OF THE VICTIM’S FAMILY MEMBERS, WHO WAS DEAF, WAS EAGERLY WATCHING THE ANNOUNCEMENT, AND ALERTED AUTHORITIES TO THE RUSE.

THE SIGNER WAS NOT ARRESTED, AS SHE HAD NOT BROKEN ANY LAWS, BUT CERTAINLY IT WAS AN ETHICAL BREACH, AND AN EMBARRASSMENT FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

BUT LET ME TELL YOU THE STORY OF ANOTHER SIGN LANGUAGE TRANSLATOR WHO STARTED A REVOLUTION.

IN 2004 VICTOR YUSHCHENKO STOOD FOR THE PRESIDENCY OF THE UKRAINE. VEHEMENTLY OPPOSED BY THE RULING PARTY YUSHCHENKO’S FACE WAS DISFIGURED AND HE ALMOST LOST HIS LIFE WHEN HE WAS MYSTERIOUSLY POISONED. THIS WAS NOT ENOUGH TO DETER HIM FROM STANDING FOR THE PRESIDENCY.

ON THE DAY OF THE ELECTION YUSHCHENKO WAS COMFORTABLY IN THE LEAD. THE RULING PARTY, NOT TO BE DENIED, TAMPERED WITH THE RESULTS. THE STATE-RUN TELEVISION STATION REPORTED “LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, WE ANNOUNCE THAT THE CHALLENGER VICTOR YUSHCHENKO HAS BEEN DECISIVELY DEFEATED.”

IN THE LOWER RIGHT-HAND CORNER OF THE SCREEN A WOMAN BY THE NAME OF NATALIA DMITRUK WAS PROVIDING A TRANSLATION SERVICE FOR THE DEAF COMMUNITY.  AS THE NEWS PRESENTER REGURGITATED THE LIES OF THE REGIME, NATALIA DMITRUK REFUSED TO TRANSLATE THEM. “I’M ADDRESSING ALL THE DEAF CITIZENS OF UKRAINE” SHE SIGNED. “THEY ARE LYING AND I’M ASHAMED TO TRANSLATE THOSE LIES.  YUSHCHENKO IS OUR PRESIDENT.”

THE DEAF COMMUNITY SPRANG INTO GEAR. THEY TEXT MESSAGED THEIR FRIENDS ABOUT THE FRAUDULENT RESULT AND AS NEWS SPREAD OF DMITRUK’S ACT OF DEFIANCE INCREASING NUMBERS OF JOURNALISTS WERE INSPIRED TO LIKEWISE TELL THE TRUTH.

OVER THE COMING WEEKS THE “ORANGE REVOLUTION” OCCURRED AS A MILLION PEOPLE WEARING ORANGE MADE THEIR WAY TO THE CAPITAL CITY OF KIEV DEMANDING A NEW ELECTION. THE GOVERNMENT WAS FORCED TO MEET THEIR DEMANDS, A NEW ELECTION WAS HELD AND VICTOR YUSHCHENKO BECAME PRESIDENT.

CHRISTIAN AUTHOR, PHILIP YANCEY WRITES:

“WHEN I HEARD THE STORY BEHIND THE ORANGE REVOLUTION, THE IMAGE OF A SMALL SCREEN OF TRUTH IN THE CORNER OF THE BIG SCREEN BECAME FOR ME AN IDEAL PICTURE OF THE CHURCH.

YOU SEE WE AS A CHURCH DO NOT CONTROL THE BIG SCREEN. (WHEN WE DO, WE USUALLY MESS IT UP.)

GO TO ANY MAGAZINE RACK OR TURN ON THE TELEVISION AND YOU SEE A CONSISTENT MESSAGE.  WHAT MATTERS IS HOW BEAUTIFUL YOU ARE, HOW MUCH MONEY OR POWER YOU HAVE.

SIMILARLY, THOUGH THE WORLD INCLUDES MANY POOR PEOPLE, THEY RARELY MAKE THE MAGAZINE COVERS OR THE NEWS SHOWS.

INSTEAD WE FOCUS ON THE SUPERRICH, NAMES LIKE BILL GATES OR OPRAH WINFREY.… OUR SOCIETY IS HARDLY UNIQUE.

THROUGHOUT HISTORY NATIONS HAVE ALWAYS GLORIFIED WINNERS, NOT LOSERS.

THEN, LIKE THE SIGN LANGUAGE TRANSLATOR IN THE LOWER RIGHT-HAND CORNER OF THE SCREEN, ALONG COMES A PERSON NAMED JESUS WHO SAYS IN EFFECT:

“DON’T BELIEVE THE BIG SCREEN – THEY’RE LYING. IT’S THE POOR WHO ARE BLESSED, NOT THE RICH. MOURNERS ARE BLESSED TOO, AS WELL AS THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST, AND THE PERSECUTED.

THOSE WHO GO THROUGH LIFE THINKING THEY’RE ON TOP END UP ON THE BOTTOM. AND THOSE WHO GO THROUGH LIFE FEELING THEY’RE ON THE BOTTOM END UP ON THE TOP.

AFTER ALL, WHAT DOES IT PROFIT A PERSON TO GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSE HIS SOUL?”

I SOMETIMES WONDER IF YOU ALL COME TO CHURCH AND THINK: “THE PREACHER’S CRAZY.  THE PREACHER’S SO OUT OF TOUCH.  WHAT A FOOL… WHAT A POLLYANNA…

“WEAR ROSE-COLORED GLASSES MUCH…?”

WE COME TO CHURCH – LIKE LAST WEEK – AND HE TALKS ABOUT KINDNESS – ABOUT BEING KIND TO OURSELVES, AND TO OTHERS, AND AS A NATION.

AND THE WEEK BEFORE THAT – HE TALKED ABOUT LOVE, AND THAT WITH LOVE IN OUR HEARTS, WE CAN CHANGE THE WORLD.

AND HE’S ALWAYS USING WORDS LIKE PEACE, JOY, FORGIVENESS, AND GRACE; WORDS THAT JUST DON’T REALLY MAKE ANY SENSE ANYMORE.

WELL, I HAVE ANOTHER WORD FOR YOU THIS MORNING – HOPE.

IN OUR HYMN FOR THIS MORNING, “O HOLY NIGHT” THE PHRASE IN THE FIRST VERSE SAYS: “A THRILL OF HOPE THE WEARY WORLD REJOICES…”

AND, THE PROPHET JEREMIAH, SPEAKING FOR GOD, SAYS IN OUR PASSAGE FOR THIS MORNING:

“FOR SURELY, I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU, SAYS THE LORD, PLANS FOR YOUR WELFARE AND NOT FOR HARM, TO GIVE YOU A FUTURE WITH HOPE.”

OR IN THE WORDS OF ANOTHER BELOVED CHRISTMAS CAROL, O LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM!

THE HOPES AND FEARS OF ALL THE YEARS

ARE MET IN THEE TONIGHT.

IT’S NOT THAT HOPE HAPPENS WHEN THERE ARE NO FEARS, WHEN THE WORLD IS NOT WEARY, BUT PRECISELY, AMIDST FEAR, WHEN THE WORLD IS WEARY, THAT HOPE IS A TESTIMONY TO OUR FAITH IN GOD!

HOPE IS THAT SMALL SCREEN OF TRUTH IN THE CORNER OF THE BIGGER PICTURE OF THE WORLD.

MARTIN LUTHER SAID: “EVERYTHING THAT IS DONE IN THE WORLD IS DONE BY HOPE.  THE FARMER PLANTS A SEED IN HOPES THAT IT WILL GROW INTO A HARVEST.  PEOPLE MARRY IN THE HOPE OF LOVE AND CHILDREN.  THE MERCHANT STARTS A BUSINESS IN HOPES OF GAINING A PROFIT.”

EVERYTHING WE DO IN LIFE IS DONE BY HOPE.

YEARS AGO, A MAN LIVING IN FLAGSTAFF, MAINE DESCRIBED HOW THE TOWN WAS TO BE FLOODED AS PART OF A LARGE LAKE BY THE CORP OF ENGINEERS’ BUILDING A SIZABLE DAM.

HE DESCRIBED HOW THE MOST PAINFUL PART OF THE EXPERIENCE BESIDES RELOCATION WAS WATCHING HIS HOMETOWN DIE.

IN THE YEAR OR SO AHEAD OF THE PROJECT – ALL IMPROVEMENTS AND REPAIRS CEASED.  WHAT WAS THE USE OF PAINTING A HOUSE WHICH WOULD BE COVERED WITH WATER?  WHY REPAIR A BUILDING WHEN THE WHOLE VILLAGE WOULD BE WIPED OUT?

WHY WORRY ABOUT RUBBISH AND POTHOLES IN THE STREETS AND GRAFFITI ON THE WALLS?  MONTH AFTER MONTH THE WHOLE TOWN BECAME MORE AND MORE BEDRAGGLED AND WOEBEGONE.

THEN HE ADDED THIS COMMENT: “WHEN THERE IS NO HOPE IN THE FUTURE, THERE IS NO POWER IN THE PRESENT.”

AND THAT’S THE REAL DANGER IN FEAR, IN A WEARY WORLD, IN GIVING INTO THE PESSIMISM THAT PREVAILS IN MUCH OF SOCIETY TODAY – THE LOSS OF HOPE!

AND WITH THE DEATH OF HOPE, THERE IS A WASTING OF THE PRESENT, AND THE FUTURE.

INTO JUST SUCH A WORLD, THEN, AND NOW, THE GOSPEL OF JOHN SAYS: “THE WORD CAME INTO THE WORLD; AND IN HIM WAS LIFE, AND THE LIFE WAS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD!”

THE WORD – CHRIST THE LORD – CAME INTO THE WORLD – AND THE WORD CAME INTO THE WORLD WITH WORDS – LIKE KINDNESS, LOVE, PEACE, JOY, FORGIVENESS, GRACE, AND HOPE!

WORDS TO LIVE BY – NOT – WORDS WITHOUT MEANING.

AND EVERY TIME WE HEAR THOSE “CHURCHY” WORDS SPOKEN INTO THE MIDST OF OUR WEARY WORLD; OR AS AN ANTIDOTE TO FEAR; OR AS THE REASON FOR DOING SOMETHING – DOING THE IMPOSSIBLE –

WE CAN THINK OF THEM AS THAT SMALL SCREEN OF TRUTH IN THE CORNER OF THE BIGGER PICTURE OF THE WORLD.

IN DANTE’S DIVINE COMEDY, VIRGIL IS THE GUIDE WHO TAKES THE READER THROUGH THE AUTHOR’S EXAMINATION OF THE AFTERLIFE, WHICH TRAVELS THROUGH THE INFERNO (HELL), THE PURGATORIO (PURGATORY), AND THE PARADISO (HEAVEN).

BUT IT IS THE WORDS ABOVE THE GATES OF HELL THAT ARE OF MEANING FOR US THIS MORNING – IN THE ENGLISH TRANSLATION – ABOVE THE GATES OF HELL – “ALL HOPE ABANDON YE WHO ENTER HERE.”

THE ABSENCE OF HOPE IS HELL; THE PRESENCE OF HOPE IS LIFE; AND WITHOUT HOPE, LIFE IS NOT MUCH WORTH LIVING.

MOST OF US KNOW THE MOVIE THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION.  IT IS ONE OF THE BEST MODERN FILMS MADE.

SET IN 1940’S AMERICA IT TELLS THE STORY OF ANDY DUFRESNE, A GENTLE, QUIETLY SPOKEN BANKER WHO IS FALSELY CONVICTED OF HIS WIFE’S MURDER AND SENT TO PRISON.

THE PRISON IS GOVERNED BY THE HARSH AND UNCOMPROMISING WARDEN NORTON.

RED, A LIFE PRISONER WHO BEFRIENDS ANDY, PUTS IT LIKE THIS:

“THE FIRST NIGHT’S THE TOUGHEST, NO DOUBT ABOUT IT. THEY MARCH YOU IN NAKED AS THE DAY YOU WERE BORN, SKIN BURNING AND HALF BLIND FROM THAT DELOUSING STUFF THEY THROW ON YOU, AND WHEN THEY PUT YOU IN THAT CELL… AND THOSE BARS SLAM HOME…THAT’S WHEN YOU KNOW IT’S FOR REAL. A WHOLE LIFE BLOWN AWAY IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE. NOTHING LEFT BUT ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD TO THINK ABOUT IT.”

AND SO, ANDY IS SUBJECTED TO THE HARSH REALITIES OF PRISON LIFE…

YET HE’S ALSO VERY INTELLIGENT.  ANDY IS CO-OPTED BY THE WARDEN TO HANDLE HIS ACCOUNTS, INCLUDING MONIES GAINED THROUGH CORRUPT AND ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES.  HE DEVELOPS CAREFUL AND ELABORATE SCHEMES TO LAUNDER THE MONEY.

IN RETURN ANDY GETS SOME CONCESSIONS FOR HIMSELF AND THE OTHER PRISONERS – A LIBRARY AND BASIC EDUCATIONAL SERVICES, A GRAMOPHONE, BEER WHILE ON A PRISON CHAIN GANG. THESE CONCESSIONS ARE LIKE LITTLE TASTES OF HEAVEN.  WHEN RED HEARS AN ITALIAN OPERA ON ANDY’S GRAMOPHONE HE SAYS:

“I HAVE NO IDEA TO THIS DAY WHAT THOSE TWO ITALIAN LADIES WERE SINGING ABOUT. TRUTH IS, I DON’T WANT TO KNOW.  SOME THINGS ARE BETTER LEFT UNSAID.  I’D LIKE TO THINK THEY WERE SINGING ABOUT SOMETHING SO BEAUTIFUL IT CAN’T EXPRESSED IN WORDS, AND IT MAKES YOUR HEART ACHE BECAUSE OF IT.  I TELL YOU, THOSE VOICES SOARED HIGHER AND FARTHER THAN ANYBODY IN A GREY PLACE DARES TO DREAM.  IT WAS AS IF SOME BEAUTIFUL BIRD HAD FLAPPED INTO OUR DRAB LITTLE CAGE AND MADE THESE WALLS DISSOLVE AWAY, AND FOR THE BRIEFEST OF MOMENTS, EVERY LAST MAN IN SHAWSHANK FELT FREE.”

UNLIKE THE OTHER PRISONER ANDY RETAINS A SENSE OF HOPE, HOPE THAT LIFE CAN BE MORE THAN PRISON, HOPE THAT HE CAN ONE DAY BE RELEASED AND LIVE AGAIN.

THEN ONE DAY, TWO DECADES AFTER HE ENTERS PRISON, ANDY IS GONE.  IT TURNS OUT THAT FOR THOSE TWO DECADES HOPE HAS DRIVEN HIM ON AS HE HAS PAINSTAKINGLY CARVED OUT A TUNNEL, HIDDEN BEHIND THE CHANGING POSTER ON HIS WALL, RITA HAYWORTH, RAQUEL WELCH.

NO ONE KNEW ABOUT IT, BUT WITH HIS TUNNEL COMPLETE ANDY CRAWLS THOUGH THE EARTH, THROUGH THE SEWER, TO FREEDOM.  HE’S LIBERATED AND FREE.

ANDY GOES TO THE BANK THAT HELD THE FALSE ACCOUNTS HE’S SET UP FOR THE WARDEN.  NOBODY HAS EVER MET THE FICTITIOUS ACCOUNT HOLDER, PETER STEVENS, BEFORE.  BUT ANDY HAS BEEN PREPARING FOR THIS FOR A LONG TIME.  HE HAS THE REQUIRED ID’S AND THE MATCHING SIGNATURE.

ANDY BECOMES PETER STEVENS AND WITHDRAWS ALL THE WARDEN’S CORRUPT MONEY.  AND THEN HE ANONYMOUSLY REVEALS NORTON’S CORRUPTION TO SEE NORTON’S HARSH FIST REMOVED FROM THE PRISON.

BUT ONE THING REMAINS.  ANDY’S GOOD FRIEND RED.

RED IS FINALLY PAROLED BUT STRUGGLES TO COPE WITH THE CHANGED WORLD OUTSIDE.  HE LONGS TO RETURN TO THE WORLD HE KNOWS – PRISON.

HE THINKS OF WAYS TO BREAK HIS PAROLE, WHEN HE REMEMBERS A CONVERSATION HE ONCE HAD WITH ANDY, A SECRET HIDING PLACE IN THE WALL OF A WINDBLOWN FIELD.

RED GOES THERE, FINDS A BOX WITH AN ENVELOPE IN IT THAT SAYS “RED” ON THE OUTSIDE.  RED OPENS THE ENVELOPE AND READS A LETTER FROM ANDY:

“DEAR RED. IF YOU’RE READING THIS, YOU’VE GOTTEN OUT.  AND IF YOU’VE COME THIS FAR, MAYBE YOU’RE WILLING TO COME A LITTLE FURTHER.

YOU REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE TOWN, DON’T YOU?  I COULD USE A GOOD MAN TO HELP ME GET MY PROJECT ON WHEELS.  I’LL KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR YOU AND THE CHESSBOARD READY.

REMEMBER, RED.  HOPE IS A GOOD THING, MAYBE THE BEST OF THINGS, AND NO GOOD THING EVER DIES.  I WILL BE HOPING THAT THIS LETTER FINDS YOU, AND FINDS YOU WELL. YOUR FRIEND.  ANDY.”

RED DOES REMEMBER THE TOWN THEY’D SPOKEN OF, AND HAS IN HIS HAND $1000 ANDY LEFT FOR HIM.  HE SETS OFF TO FIND HIS FRIEND, TELLING US:

“I FIND I AM SO EXCITED I CAN BARELY SIT STILL, OR HOLD A THOUGHT IN MY HEAD.  I THINK IT IS THE EXCITEMENT ONLY A FREE MAN CAN FEEL, A FREE MAN AT THE START OF A LONG JOURNEY WHOSE CONCLUSION IS UNCERTAIN…

I HOPE I CAN MAKE IT ACROSS THE BORDER.  I HOPE TO SEE MY FRIEND AND SHAKE HIS HAND.  I HOPE THE PACIFIC IS AS BLUE AS IT HAS BEEN IN MY DREAMS.  I HOPE.”

SO, CALL ME CRAZY, FOOLISH, POLLYANNA, BUT I, FOR ONE, AM GOING TO GO RIGHT ON USING THE WORDS OF CHRIST; THE WORDS OF CHRISTMAS;

THE WORDS THAT ARE THAT SMALL SCREEN OF TRUTH IN THE CORNER OF THE BIGGER PICTURE OF THE WORLD:

WORDS LIKE: KINDNESS, LOVE, FORGIVENESS, GRACE, PEACE, JOY, AND HOPE.