THE DAY HOPE DIES
The day grows dark. The sun is hidden. The earth trembles. Satan laughs. All of Heaven cries. A few grieve at the foot of a crude cross. A mother lies sobbing in the dirt. The Prince of Peace, the King of Heaven, the very Son of God hangs in agony on the cross. The Father has forsaken His Son.
Jesus lifts His bloody head, “It is done” He whispers. “Into thy hands, Father, I come.”
The ground heaves. The sky is dark. The wind rages. The dead are awakened. Satan pumps his fist! The temple curtain, separating man from God is torn in two. The angels weep. A mother wails at the foot of the cross where her Son’s body hangs limp.
It is done! The Bright Morning Star is dead! The Light of the universe is snuffed out. All hope has fled. Hope is gone. Hope lies dead in a tomb closed by a sealed rock.

“My soul waits silently for God alone For my expectation is from Him. He only is my Rock and my Salvation. He is my Defense. I shall not be moved.” Ps. 62:5-6

THE DAWN OF HOPE
In the stillness of the dawn, the dew drips quietly off the plants. The leaves tremble slightly as the sky brightens. Nothing else moves, there is not even a bird song to welcome this dawn of the ages.
Suddenly a grating sound breaks the quietness. The great stone sealing the tomb of Jesus jerks. With a great rumble, it begins to slowly roll away. The soldiers sitting near by spring to their feet and stare with mouths open as the huge rock rolls to the side revealing the black opening of the tomb.
Bright light streams from inside the cave. A form fills the opening. Blinding light surrounds the form in a flowing robe. The very form of the man who had been laid in the tomb three days before now stands in glimmering brightness, hands raised to the sky.
The soldiers drop in a dead faint. Just as the sun breaks over the edge of the earth, the Light of the World steps forward. Jesus the Son of God, IS RISEN! Hope lives!

“In God is my salvation and my glory. The Rock of my strength and refuge is in God.
Trust in Him at all times, you people. Pour out your heart before Him. God is a refuge for us.” Ps. 62:7-8

HOPE VISITED
My Hope looks like the rising Son, brilliant light blazing across the dark sky of my soul. My Hope is leaning on Him alone, no other resources, no other person, no world wide web, no cell phone, nothing but the Rock of my salvation.
The High King of Heaven is my Defense, He is my expectation, He only is my Hope.
My Hope is a Rock. He is my refuge, a strong tower. My Hope is a world wide power, a universe wide strength. Instead of “googling”, I pour my heart out to the One who knows all things and controls all things. The One who created all things is my fortress. The One who holds the stars in place holds me in His arms.
He is the High King, the Prince of Heaven, the Ruler of All. The High Power is my Refuge and my Defense.
My Hope walks away from the tomb of death. My Hope knocks down the evil one. My Hope raises his hands to the sky and cries, “Victory!”
In Christ alone! He is my hope, nothing more, nothing less! In Christ alone I stand!
“On Christ the solid rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand.”

“God is my Refuge and strength. An ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore I will not fear, even though the earth be removed and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea. Though the waters roar and are troubled, though the mountains shake with its swelling.
God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved. God shall help her just at the break of dawn.
Be still and know I am God. The Lord of all is with us! The God of Jacob is our Refuge!” Ps. 46:1-3, 5, 10, 11