Longing for Hope

November 30, 2025

In this Advent message, we explore why true hope can never come from the world around us—but only from the God who enters our darkness, redeems His people, and promises to come again.

As we begin the Advent season, Pastor Jim invites us to step back and see the whole biblical story—not just isolated verses, but Scripture’s full narrative of creation, fall, redemption, and consummation. Drawing from Isaiah 1–2, we look honestly at the spiritual rebellion, moral decline, and political chaos facing God’s people and recognize that these same patterns appear in our world today. Isaiah speaks truth about humanity’s condition not to discourage us, but to clarify where our hope truly lies.

In a season when we focus on Christ’s first coming, we are reminded that Advent also points toward His continual coming through the Holy Spirit and His promised second coming. Though we live in the tension between the “already” and the “not yet,” the light of Christ has pierced the darkness, offering real hope in a hopeless world. Through Jesus—our Redeemer who steps into the courtroom and takes our place—we receive forgiveness, assurance, and the indwelling Spirit who witnesses to our hearts that God’s promises are true.