Joy Today, Hope Tomorrow

“Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”   —Psalm 30:5b

The Christmas shopping buzz has begun with fervor. Many search for that perfect gift for the person who already has everything. For my grandchildren, I am personally looking for that unique gift that doesn’t cost an arm and a leg but will also not end up broken in the yard or discarded in the land fill before the winter is over. We all joke about how the children will spend weeks playing with the boxes while they throw away the expensive toy or gadget that came in the box.

The familiar phrase “Here today, gone tomorrow” reflects our culture’s acceptance of throw away household items, relationships, and our very lives. Many no longer attempt to repair mixers, TVs, lawnmowers, or marriages. We discard them and head off to WalMart or shop online for the next bargain. I can still remember the day when things were built to last.

The truth of human frailty underlies the idiom “Here today, gone tomorrow.”  “Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow” (Psalm 144:4). Human lives are very fragile and vulnerable. Our lives may be moving along nicely, and everything changes with the slip of a foot, a call from the doctor, or a text message from a significant other.

“Joy today, hope tomorrow” better describes the Christian’s life. Joy is a present reality looking forward to a future hope. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5b). We may live in difficult times. Earthly possessions and relationships may become broken and discarded, but Jesus Christ remains the same. How quickly we forget that God created human beings for eternity.

Christians are interesting creatures. I say creature because Christians are a whole new life form. 2 Corinthians 5 states, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God” (5:17-18a). We live with the same weaknesses and shortcomings as others but possess an abiding joy that sets us apart. Yes, we face all the same challenges but “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us” (Romans 8:37).

As you do your Christmas shopping, remember there is only one perfect gift. Jesus Christ is God’s perfect gift to all people. He came to earth, lived a sinless life, died in our place, and rose again from the grave to offer us eternal life. Eternal life begins when we acknowledge and receive God’s gift and continues forever. Be thankful we are not throw-away items to God. God loves us and plans to enjoy loving us for all eternity.  The greatest gift you will ever receive has already been purchased and offered to you on Christmas.  May God fill you with joy and hope this season. Happy shopping.