This week begins the season of the Advent.  It is a celebration of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.  And in that spirit, each week I will have a special post for each week of Advent.  This week is the week of hope. 

"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.  Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.  For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently" (Romans 8:22-25).  In this time of year, perhaps more that other times, there is much that is hoped for in the world.  Whether it be children hoping to get everything on their Christmas list to those who hope to get anything at all.  In the world at large, there is the hope of peace in the world.  However, the hope that Christ came to bring is more than these things.  It is more than just peace on earth and the end of war.  It is the "adoption as sons" into God's household and "the redemption of our bodies" at Christ's return.  Those who believe in and follow Christ have that hope, because the genuine Christian is an heir with Jesus of the world to come.  In that world, in that kingdom, there will be no more war, no more death or pain.

Apart from submission to Christ, the Utopian dream is only that.  Those who belong to Christ now, have hope of a real utopia- the Kingdom of God, the New Jerusalem, Mount Zion, the New Heavens and New Earth.  In fact, those who belong to Christ are the "firstfruits" of the new creation.  That is, they are a new creation in Christ.