Hope in Uncertain Times

in uncertain times

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to read on...

Curious about Christianity?
Reconnecting with a childhood faith?
Remembering stories grandparents told you?
Reconsidering what you rejected in school
assemblies or RE lessons?
Exploring the faith a friend seems to rely on?
Then this book is for you.
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before lockdown

Life before lockdown wasn’t always a bed of roses.
But it was normal and predictable
Or at least we thought it was.
Now everything seems unknown.
What does the future hold?
Is there a door of hope?
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the good fight
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The new Coronavirus was first
identified by Dr Li Wenliang who
was hoping for a cure. He cared
for patients until he contracted
the virus himself. Sadly, on 7 February
2020, he died, as so many thousands have
since. He was 33 and left his wife, child and
unborn baby. A poignant poem attributed
to him ends with an ancient quotation:
‘I have fought the good fight, I have
finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Now there is in store for me the crown
of righteousness, which the Lord, the
righteous Judge, will award to me on that
day —and not only to me, but also to all
who have longed for his appearing...’.
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that lasts
These words are pointing to a door
of hope. They were written by a
first century man called Paul who
was in prison on death row in the
Middle East. Paul was one of the first
followers of Jesus, one of millions known
as Christians throughout history and
around the world. Men, women and
children of every nationality have found
this door of hope as they have discovered
the love and life Jesus offers, life that lasts
beyond the grave.
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In the Covid-19 crisis politicians hoping for
guidance have put their trust in science to
point to a way through. Dr Francis Collins,
left, one of the top scientists involved in
containing the coronavirus pandemic, told
a reporter that it is his Christian faith not
science that he looks to in a crisis. ‘I think
I’ve arrived at a place where my faith has
become a really strong support for dealing
with life’s struggles… God is sufficient…
I don’t have to be strong in every
circumstance.’
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in the darkness

Millions have Googled ‘how
to pray’ since the start of
the Covid-19 crisis.
Booksellers report a boom
in Bible sales. Churches offering online
services have more than doubled their
congregations.
In the silence and isolation of lockdown
many have heard a whisper in their hearts
... a still, small voice calling ‘I am the way
and the truth and the life... Come to me, all
you who are weary and burdened... God is
our refuge and strength, an ever-present
help in trouble.’
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overcomes fear

Covid-19 affects us all in some
way. We can’t avoid the
impact of the virus, but how
can we overcome the plague
of fear sweeping the planet?
About AD90 a man called John wrote:
‘There is no fear in love. But perfect love
drives out fear’ (John’s first letter chapter
4 verse 18). He was talking about the love
of God, which he experienced when he
watched his closest friend, Jesus, die on
a cross just outside the city of Jerusalem
in the Middle East.
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and believing

John was an eyewitness at Jesus’
crucifixion, and he wrote an account
of Jesus’ life, which is known as John’s
Gospel. Ancient fragments of this
Gospel can be seen in Manchester’s John
Rylands Library.
John wrote down many of the things Jesus
said including these words: ‘God so loved
the world that he gave his one and only
Son, that whoever believes in him shall
not perish but have eternal life’ (The
Gospel of John chapter 3 verse 16).
He made the connection between God’s
love for humanity, Jesus’ life and death,
and the door of hope from death to
eternal life.
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Certain
John knew that Jesus’ death and
resurrection make it possible for each
of us to experience the love of God
and to have life after death. Christians
worldwide have this sure and certain hope.
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Mary Berry, left, one of Britain’s best-known
cookery broadcasters faced tragedy when
her 19-year-old son William died in a car
accident in 1989. Mary says it was her
Christian faith that sustained her through
the tragedy: ‘William’s death deepened my
faith; without its support, I really would
have struggled.’
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again!

John’s eyewitness account explains
how Jesus died on a Friday and was
buried in a tomb with a huge stone
rolled over the entrance. On the
Sunday, a group of women went to the
tomb and saw that the stone had been
removed. The tomb was empty. Jesus then
appeared to his followers, proving that he
was alive. The wounds from his crucifixion
could be touched. He could eat. He was
not a ghost.
As well as knowing they are loved by God,
Christians know that death is not the end.
They can be confident of this because Jesus’
death on the cross was followed by his
resurrection. He came back from the dead!
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A Heavenly

Ashort time after his
resurrection, Jesus returned
to his Father in heaven, but
before he went he promised
his followers that he would always be
with them and that he would prepare
a heavenly home for them.
Jesus told his followers: ‘Do not let your
hearts be troubled. You believe in God;
believe also in me… if I go and prepare
a place for you, I will come back and take
you to be with me that you also may be
where I am’ (John’s Gospel chapter 14
verses 1-2).
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for the future

During his life on earth Jesus
often used stories or parables
to describe the ‘kingdom of
heaven’. He described himself
as ‘the door’ and explained that anyone
going through this door ‘will be saved’...
(John’s Gospel chapter 10 verse 9 ESVUK).
He also said, ‘The kingdom of heaven is
like treasure hidden in a field. When a man
found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy
went and sold all he had and bought that
field’ (Matthew’s Gospel chapter 13 verse
44). According to Jesus, eternal life with
him is worth everything we have.
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wedding stories

When Jesus talked about
the kingdom of heaven
he often told stories
about weddings. In one
parable the bridesmaids are waiting
for the bridegroom, but they aren’t
prepared so they miss out.
In another parable Jesus described
wedding guests that were too busy to
attend the marriage of a king’s son, so
the servants went into the streets and
gathered all the people they could find,
the bad as well as the good, so the
wedding hall was filled with guests.
But sadly, one of the guests refused to
wear the wedding robes that had been
provided and so was turned away.
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A wedding
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Did you know you are invited to
be a guest at a wedding at the
end of time. The Church is
described as the ‘Bride of
Christ’ and each of us invited to the
wedding feast. Jesus himself provides the
wedding clothes. There is nothing we can
do to earn this wedding invitation, but we
do need to ask Jesus to cover our
shortcomings.
When someone becomes a Christian and
turns away from their past wrongdoings,
it is as if they are washed clean and given
these new wedding clothes to wear.
Jesus said, ‘Whoever hears my word and
believes him who sent me has eternal life
and will not be judged, but has crossed
over from death to life’ (John’s Gospel
chapter 5 verse 24).
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journey
Finding a simple faith to empower
his life, TV star Bear Grylls says,
has been his greatest adventure.
‘Life is a journey and at times we
all need a guide. For me that guide has
become much more than simply a pointer
of the way. He has become my backbone,
my helper, my companion and my friend.’
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Quoting from the Bible Bear Grylls
explains, ‘Jesus said, “I have come so
that you may have life and have it in
abundance.” That was a bit of an
eye-opener for me. I always thought that
Christianity was about being very sensible
and acting all smart and religious. But the
more I discovered about Jesus Christ
himself, the more I found a man who was
as unreligious as you can imagine…. It was
about a relationship with someone who
promises us life in abundance, joy within,
peace without and freedom in our soul.’
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New
Jesus also said, ‘I am the resurrection
and the life. The one who believes in
me will live, even though they die’
(John’s Gospel chapter 11 verse 25).
Gardens, especially in spring, show us lots
of images that help us to understand the
new life Jesus gives. Bulbs that were
planted in the autumn – buried as if in
a grave – spring up transformed into
beautiful daffodils, hyacinths or tulips.
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Who could imagine that a drab bulb
could be transformed into something
so beautiful?
Beautiful butterflies and dancing
dragonflies all start out as ugly bugs
and give us a glimpse of how we too will
be transformed – not confined to the
grave but resurrected to eternal life with
bodies which have been transformed
like Jesus’ body.
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No more
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John, the Gospel writer, also wrote
a vision of heaven in the book of
Revelation. He chose a golden city
to help us understand more about
eternal life where there is nothing evil
to spoil a perfect world.
Looking to the future John wrote: ‘Look!
God’s dwelling place is now among the
people, and he will dwell with them. They
will be his people, and God himself will be
with them and be their God. He will wipe
every tear from their eyes. There will be no
more death or mourning or crying or pain,
for the old order of things has passed
away’ (The Bible book of Revelation
chapter 21 verse 4).
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the door to hope

The Holman-Hunt painting of
‘Jesus – the Light of the World’
in St Paul’s Cathedral shows a
door with no handle. It can’t
be opened from the outside. The writing
under the picture is taken from Revelation
chapter 3 verse 20 ‘Here I am! I stand at
the door and knock. If anyone hears my
voice and opens the door, I will come in…’
Jesus invites us to open the door to hope
– giving him access to our lives, so we can
enjoy life with him, life that begins now
and lasts forever. He wants us to be
confident of his love in the face of fear,
now and always.
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You might like to pray
this prayer to open the
door to hope:
‘Father in heaven.
Thank you for sending Jesus
to show me your love.
I am sorry that I’ve lived life my own way.
As I turn towards you and
open the door of my life,
forgive my shortcomings
and help me to live life your way,
following Jesus.’
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FOR
ALL
If someone you know has died, search
AtaLoss.org for bereavement support
services and information.
This booklet is a gift from your local church.
To find out more about Christianity, ask the
person who gave you this booklet or visit
hopeforall.org.uk where you can explore
answers to questions you might have,
ask a question by email or ask to be
connected to a local church.
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Copyright © 2020 Biblica
Unless otherwise stated all Scripture
quotes are taken from the HOLY BIBLE,
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A promise for now and for eternity
A promise for now and for eternity
‘Neither death nor life…will be
‘Neither
able
death nor life…will be able to separate us
to separate us from the love of God’
from the love of God’
(The Bible book of Romans
chapter 8 verses 38-39).
Romans chapter 8 verses 38-39).