The Second Hope, the Hope of Truth

O come, O Wisdom from on high,

who ordered all things mightily;

to us the path of knowledge show

and teach us in its ways to go.

As we learn of triumphs and tragedies worldwide, we no longer call these accounts headlines. Information reaches us fast and from many sources, some more reliable than others. Today, what we used to call headlines is called "Top Stories." "Stories" is an appropriate term since every media outlet has a story to tell, true or, in the words of a popular movie franchise, "true from a certain point of view." Many today are searching and longing for Truth, but what they find are perspectives and opinions. Pilate's words from John 18:38 echo into the present day, "truth, what is truth?"

In the Second Hope of Advent, we discover that Emmanuel is the hope of Truth in O Come, O Come. The seven hopes of Advent began as early as the 6th century as calls to morning prayer in monastic communities. By the end of the week before Christmas, the culmination of the seven calls to prayer arrives in God's response, the sending of His Son to enter human history, put on human flesh, to be born as the True king, and to show all people the Truth (John 18:37). The first hope of Advent frees us from our slavery and bondage to sin. Through surrendering to Jesus and turning away from our sins, the freedom Jesus bought with Jesus' life, death, resurrection, and ascension allows the Son to set us free (John 8:36).

If the first hope of Advent frees us from sin, the second hope of Advent frees us to the Truth, to live the Truth. In John 14:6, Jesus declares. "Jesus told him, "I am the way, the Truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" (CSB). When God shines His light of Truth in our lives, we recognize we are rebels or sinners. Jesus is the way, the Truth, and the life. By surrendering to Jesus, we know we are forgiven and freed from sin. Yet, God's light of Truth reveals that we still sin, and without God's help, we lack the power within ourselves to obtain victory over our rebellious desires. Our only hope is in God. God knows how life is best lived and gives us the Holy Spirit, empowering us to live life transformed by the Truth.

In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis writes:

"The command Be ye perfect is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command. He said (in the Bible) that we were "gods," and He is going to make good His words. If we let Him—for we can prevent Him, if we choose—He will make the feeblest and filthiest of us into a god or goddess, a dazzling, radiant, immortal creature, pulsating all through with such energy and joy and wisdom and love as we cannot now imagine, a bright stainless mirror which reflects back to God perfectly (though, of course, on a smaller scale) His own boundless power and delight and goodness. The process will be long and, in parts, very painful; but that is what we are in for. Nothing less. He meant what He said."

The hope of Truth is wrapped up in Jesus at Christmas. In Jesus alone we can find Truth. The Truth about our brokenness and rebellion. The Truth about sin's consequence and our powerlessness to remove our sin. The Truth that Jesus has set us free from our slavery to sin. The Truth that the Holy Spirit empowers us to follow God. The Truth that Jesus isn't done yet. Jesus is the Truth of our hope. As we live surrendering to Jesus, we live surrendering to the one who is the Truth. Through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit, we walk with Jesus, who is the Truth and the one who renews our hope each day.

Refrain:

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel

shall come to you, O Israel.