Bright Hope

My mother passed away at St. Luke’s hospital in Boise, Idaho. Brent Cobb happened to
snap this photo while she was passing away. He said it looked like the skies opened
and the sun broke through and lit up St. Luke’s. A bright hope!

Scripture:

For while we are still in this tent, we groan under our burden, because we wish not to be unclothed but to be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.

(2 Cor. 5:4–5 NRSV)

Observation:

Paul is physically tired from his work and ministry. His body is aching and he literally groans in pain. However, this groaning is not just the result of his current physical pains, but also an anticipation of what is to come. Much like a woman in labor, there is pain, and yet there is bright hope about what will come at the end of the journey. 

Very carefully, Paul is laying out a picture that is not in-line with the gnostic ideas of the Greeks. This is not about some future disembodied existence, but it is looking forward to life in his resurrected body. This resurrected body will be cured from all of the corruption that it has experienced here on earth and will be clothed, or swallowed up by life, which is found in fellowship with the Triune God. 

The promise of all of this is provided by the Holy Spirit, the down-payment, or deposit, on what is to come. That means that we are already participating in the future resurrection life by way of the Holy Spirit, but we are not yet entirely there. We are given this bright hope which remains in tension with the current realities of this world. 

Application:

I’m not quite sure that I like this season of life; the season in which I am confronted with the passing of so many dear people. Many of my friends are losing their parents, but there are also those who have been long-standing mentors and colleagues who are also passing away. For those of us who remain there is a sting of pain, a hollow place in our hearts that will not be filled. At the same time, for those who groaned for lengthy periods of time, the long wait is now over. They lived in the bright hope of what was to come, which was new life. 

While there are many passing, there are also the joys of new life. Yesterday a new niece joined our family, Hazel May. Within a month there will be a new grandson. There has been a lengthy period of anticipation, as well as pain, but we all know that it is worth it for there is the bright hope of new life. 

It is the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives that gives us the strength to endure the pain and groaning of this imperfect life that will lead us into the perfect. Resurrection life in Christ is the foreshadowing of the life which we are promised. It is a bright hope, for which we are grateful. 

Prayer:

Lord, thank you for the bright hope which you have given through the presence of the Holy Spirit. Amen.