Issue link: http://denverseminary.uberflip.com/i/1314061
21 HOPE BORN OF FAITH John 1:6-8 All of the planetary suffering as the 20th century is gasping out its final years underscores the Christmas message. The plight of the whole human family, the hear tbreaking disasters, the horrendous wars, the hunger and homelessness around the globe. Without the light that shines from the Bethlehem manger—the radiant Good News that God loves our fallen world and so loved it as to give His one and only Son—we would be engulfed in pessimistic darkness. But as believers in the gospel we aren't. This is what Ralph Vaughn Williams writes: Promise fills the sky with light, Stars and angels dance in flight; Joy of heaven shall now unbind Chains of evil from mankind, Love and joy their power shall break, And for a newborn prince's sake; Never since the world began Such a light such dark did span. In case we need still fur ther encouragement drawn from our faith, let's listen to one of the most perceptive and respected evangelicals of our day, John Stott. Responding to the question as to whether or not he is optimistic, he said, I'm an optimist, because I don't think pessimism and faith are easy bedfellows. I believe that God is at work in the world; I believe that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation to every believer ; and I believe that the church can be salt and light in the community. Both salt and light are influential commodities: they change the environment in which they are placed. So my prayer for you, a prayer that I keep offering for myself, is that the hope born of faith will enable all of us to move on into the future with a realistic optimism. -VCG, 1999 DECEMBER 15