The Advent hope is about how God's people are waiting for his promises to come true. This will be the time when the wrongdoing, suffering and injustice of this world are past and all of creation will be as God intended.
We search for meaning in life, especially when events are so difficult to understand.
c. 700 BCE
In history, for example, the Jews struggled to understand the meaning of the times when they were exiled from their own country. Two examples were when the northern tribes of Israel were taken into captivity by the Assyrians and when the southern tribes of Judah were taken into captivity by the Babylonians.
Amos and Hosea prophesied this would happen to Israel because of the people's low standards of behaviour and honesty and because they were failing to live up to God's expectations of them.
Jeremiah, living at the time of the Babylonian invasion, spoke courageously about God's judgement on people for betraying God's trust (Jeremiah 21.1 - 22.30; 23.9-40; 7.1-34 and 26.1-9).
But his message was also one of hope that out of the bad times people would learn to live as God wanted them to (Jeremiah 30 - 33).
(You could use The Bible Gateway to look up the references.)
examples of practical love in action:
UNICEF: Earthquake in Turkey
Oxfam: Emergencies
Save the Children: Emergencies
Christian Aid: Latest News
(Emergency Information)
How many examples did you find?
We can ask the same questions when disasters strike whole countries.
At times like these we can see the power of love at work. People's love shown when there is a crisis in the world illustrates how the suffering of some people can teach others the importance of practical love being put into practice. It's an example of bringing to the world the love which God wants all people to share.
|
These websites give a flavour both of Nelson Mandela's struggle and his inspiration: Biography of Nelson Mandela Mandela: A tiger for our time (quite a lengthy article) These sites give two "ordinary" people's views of the Advent Hope: A Mustard Seed Christmas I'm An Advent Christian You can look at some of these websites and catch something of Christopher Reeve's inspiration: |
(extensive but 'unofficial')
Christopher Reeve is Still Superman
When disaster strikes at the life of one person they may find comfort in the belief that they are not the only one who is suffering, that it will not last forever.
Nelson Mandela, who recently retired as President of South Africa,
inspired many people throughout the world by the dignity with which he lived
through many years of imprisonment. Turning it from a time when many people
might have become bitter, to a time when the people of the world were inspired to
look for a better way of living together.John McCarthy became famous when he was held hostage in Lebanon. Imprisoned in horrific conditions, by people who felt they were doing God's will, he found comfort in a copy of the Bible he was given. He said that Psalm 69 reassured him that someone, although they lived 2000 years before, understood what he was going through, and the belief that he was not forgotten gave him hope.
Another famous example is how Christopher Reeve (Superman) turned his injuries to a positive purpose. He set himself a target to give his new life a purpose and this has inspired - or shaped the life of - many who admired him and the example he provided.
Can you find any examples of people who are not famous, who have been an inspiration through their suffering?
