The price of HOPE

Who has seen the red white and blue Barack Hussein Obama picture with the word Hope below it? (image search "obama hope") As it turns out, this popular picture is the cause of some controversy. The guy that rendered it into the popular picture that we are familiar with, the "Obama looking up, as to the future of hope," is being sued for copyright infringement or something. If you are interested in that story, there are other places to look. I am here to share a different story. Kerusso, a popular Christian t-shirt company has re-renderd the popular image to fit a Christian message of hope. Instead of Hussein Obama Kerusso has used a similar image of Jesus Christ wearing a crown of thorns. Instead of simply HOPE at the bottom, the shirt reads "Jesus is our greatest HOPE". Ah, now we are getting at something we can work with. I do find the story about the man being sued fascinating simply because his message was hope, and now he is recognizing that there is a cost associated with that message. There is always a cost associated with that message. Hussein Obama wasn't particularly clear about cost when he was campaigning, but we now are beggining to see a bit of the price with his new "economic stumulus" or "government growth" plan. My concern is that we are able to associate the true cost of hope with the true source of Hope: Jesus Christ. Yes, He is the cost (or the price that was paid) and He is the Hope. The message is clear, Hope has a price, He paid the price, we can have Hope. But how? I do not think there is a more important question that anyone can ask right now. How can I have hope? As you ask this question, the first step is complete; you must recognize your need for Hope, apart from Christ we are hopeless. If I do not have Christ, I do not have hope. If I need Hope, I need Christ. Having recognized your need, the next step is to turn from that hopeless life toward a life of Hope, to introduce yourself to the relational Christ who decided that He would pay the price for you so that you could have Hope. The Hope that He offers is the best Hope, because it is the most expensive Hope. It cost Him His life. Cherish this gift. Return the favor by entering into a relationship with the God who gives Hope. I pray that God would quicken your heart to the truth of His Word, the reality of His relationship, and the need of His Hope. In the Hopeful name of Jesus Christ, the Savior!