A “Beacon of Hope” has been used as a metaphor to describe the United States of America. As nations struggled with turmoil, crippling poverty, or political division, the United States of America has been the “beacon of hope” that others can look upon and find hope. Even though we had seen our own difficult days throughout history, we continued to emerge as a shining light.
Enter the year 2020. Covid-19. Sheltering-in-place. Social Distancing. Political differences. Rioting. Racism. While other nations were also affected, the world was watching, would the United States of America continue to be the “beacon of hope”?
As the world watches from afar, at home the topic of “hope” comes up around family dinner tables, office water coolers, and church pulpits across America. In troubling and uncertain days, what is the hope for our nation?
The answer lies in where you are placing your hope. Are you hopeful for a return to normalcy? Economic upswing? An end to global pandemics? World peace?
Praying for the health, wealth, and prosperity of our nation and the world is not erroneous theology. God commanded those who were exiled in Jeremiah 29:7 to “seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” Yet, distorted theology comes when our hope flows from our welfare rather than the Cross.
The Beacon of Hope for our nation and the world is not found in the one that governs a nation, but our radiant hope is found in the One who is exalted above all, Jesus. Colossians 1:17 says, “He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything He might be preeminent.:”
Without Jesus, we are under the dominion and darkness of sin. On our own strength, we have no hope. However, Jesus suffered sacrificially on the cross for our sins and victoriously came back to life on the third day. His resurrection has become the Beacon of Hope for the nations. He is preeminent above all. As long as Jesus is preeminent, there is hope for our nation.
Our call to action is to look to our Beacon of Hope around the family dinner table, the office water coolers, and church pulpits. As Christ followers marvel at our Beacon of Hope, others will see His light shine through us, and we become beacons of hope that reflect the True Beacon of Hope for the world.