Hope

Springtime brings with it a few special memories and familiar sensations, some of my most cherished being the end of a school year and the beginning of a baseball season, talk of summer plans and a dark, frozen world made over. 

Spring holds in it a hope of great things to come, manifest in things like the birth of baby lambs, blossoms on the trees, and the smell of freshly cut grass. But I’ve learned an important lesson: The grass smells better when you are the one who took the time to mow it. 

I’m not trying to take credit for the lawncare at the Townsend household - that responsibility falls mainly on my dad and little brother Nate. I’m only pointing out that the hope of ‘better things to come’ is secured and reinforced by our personal effort and consideration. 

I used to use the word “hope” loosely. I hope it works out. I hope the game goes well this weekend. I hope I remembered everything I needed to pack. 

Hope is not wishful thinking or crossed fingers. It’s not an independent wish for an unseen, desired outcome. 

So what is hope? Why do we need it? How do we obtain it?

C.S. Lewis offers the following. 

“This means that a continual looking forward to the eternal world is not (as some modern people think) a form of escapism or wishful thinking, but one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is.”

This renowned author and devoted Christian highlights a point I’d like to make today. I pray the Spirit of the Lord is present as I share truths and experiences, allowing us all to learn what we’re meant to. Most of all, on this Easter Morning, I pray we each can leave here with a better understanding of Who Jesus Christ is, what He does for us, and how, through Him, we Hope.

Of all the Christlike attributes we as disciples of Jesus Christ are called to develop, Hope, through a fair amount of study and clumsy application, has easily become one of my favorites. I’d love to share with you my hope findings. I invite you to find your own. 

As I mentioned before, Hope is not wishful thinking. Rather, Hope is certainty based on past experience. 

I’ve watched the Lord work through my problems with me before, why should this be any different? I have felt before the Spirit of the Lord confirm to me that my efforts have been accepted, so I know I can be successful this round in this responsibility, too. 

Since the beginning of the world, we have read about and watched the Lord use chosen servants to direct the affairs of His church. He led the Children of Israel out of bondage, He can do it again. 

Perhaps the greatest source of hope comes as we study the last week of the Savior’s life. Filled with teaching and service and sacrifice. After His sacrifice in the garden and death on the cross, we get this phrase of scripture, “aAnd the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

6 He is not here: for he is arisen, as he said. Come, see the place where the bLord lay.

 Hope is knowing that Christ rose on the third day, so my loved ones will, too. We obtain that hope by faithfully living like we know that to be true. 

But we live in a changing world. Inconsistencies abound and values change daily based on current circumstances, and the word ‘current’ has a shorter shelf-life with each passing day and popular trend. Not much seems ‘certain’ any more. To which I’d offer my next hope finding.

Hope Deals in Definitives, because we deal with a Father in Heaven who always keeps His promises. 

Jesus Christ is the Son of our Heavenly Father, even God. In the book of John, it is written, “38 For I acame down from heaven, not to do mine own bwill, but the cwill of him that sent me.

39 And this is the aFather’s bwill which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose cnothing, but should draise it up again at the last day.

An essential part of God’s plan of Happiness for all of us His children is the ability to choose. As we choose to be obedient to the Lord’s will and commandments, we access the grace of Christ. We read in a book called the Doctrine and Covenants that “I the Lord am bound when ye do what I say, when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.”

Jesus Christ did all His Father Said, allowing us the Gift of a precious Savior and Dear Redeemer. He will not ‘lose’ us, but raise us up again at the last day. He paid the debt and mercifully adjusted the terms of our agreement. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and abelieveth on him, may have beverlasting life: and I will raise him up cat the last day.”

Springtime is easy to enjoy when the weather is nice and our baseball team wins. And when you have a riding lawnmower, you don’t think twice about cutting the backyard.

You know as well as I do, life is not all sunshine. We need hope. Life is not all storm clouds, either. We need hope.

I testify that Jesus Christ knows, and His hope is available in every season. 

In the Book of Mormon, another testament of Jesus Christ, I have come to know my Savior. The Spirit has confirmed to me the truth of the following words. I pray He does the same for us all.. 11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and aafflictions and btemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.

12 And he will take upon him adeath, that he may bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to csuccor his people according to their infirmities.

13 Now the Spirit aknoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the bflesh that he might ctake upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.

Indeed, Hope is feeling the wounds in His hands and in His feet and drinking the bitter cup, and continuing to shout Hosanna.

Put simply, hope is Following Christ, remembering what He’s already done, remembering what He’s promised He’ll do, and remembering to shout hosanna, no matter how painful it may be for us to shout today. 

As expressed by someone far more articulate than I am, having hope is “one of the things a Christian is meant to do. It does not mean that we are to leave the present world as it is.” Hope is not a passive principle. 

Maybe that’s why I like Springtime and Hope. Such a blessed reassurance, and responsibility to act. Good things take work. Because of Him, our work can be a sufficient offering. There’s hardly anything better, than knowing Heaven is pleased with the work you’ve done. 

He lives, so I can hope.

He truly is always the answer.