On the Outskirts of Hope

Okay, I have a few pet peeves that mount me on my high horse so I can ride off on a tangent (I freely admit here that I have no idea what a peeve is and I’m pretty sure a tangent is one of those math concepts that I really never quite understood). None-the-less, one of those pet peeves is the misnomer “reality” TV. I’m nauseated by their proliferation and their pretense to simply be a slice of life caught on film. Yes, the people aren’t actors (hello, captain obvious) and there is no script. However, we all know that they are riddled with contrived, manipulated, product placement enhanced, drama driven situations orchestrated by cagey Hollywood types that know how to paint these willing victims into expected corners of human reaction. In short, reality… my foot! The only reality has been in the harrowing news of late about Ryan Jenkins, who allegedly murdered, mutilated and disposed of his wife and then ended his fleeing from authorities by hanging himself in a Canadian motel room. Now that’s reality… the reality of sin!

I don’t usually pay attention to such startling reminders of the darkened hearts of this wicked and evil world that surrounds us but my eyes latched on to an ironic phrase in the AP report of this story. In identifying the location of where Jenkins met his demise the article located the motel as being “on the outskirts of Hope.” Now, we are talking about reality, the reality of life enslaved by sin where it truly is on the outskirts of hope! Paul wrote to the Corinthians brethren who certainly had their own dramas that in the face of an imperfect world and imperfect knowledge three things remained (i.e. are worth holding on to)… faith, hope and love (1 Corinthians 13:13). He also later tells them, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men.” (1 Corinthians 15:19). Yes, hope anchors the soul (Hebrews 6:19) and keeps our eyes on the horizon of time when Christ will return in ultimate victory, the penult of reality shows!

Yes, but reality is that even Christians can find themselves on the outskirts of hope. Yes, walking in the light as He is in the light doesn’t mean we will be sinless and often at loss for the assurance of hope. But our very real frailty keeps bringing us back to the light that redeems us and the hope that secures our faith and champions our obedience. Assured of our weakness we keep seeking our strength in our Lord and cognizant that our righteousness is in Him and Him alone! Hope is brightened by the one show of reality that the redeemed share by grace… without Him there is no hope and with Him there is life! -DAN