HE IS OUR HOPE

By Jerelyn Pearson

Recently I began babysitting my 9 month old granddaughter one day a week. The first time Danielle left Brooklyn with me, I noticed that Brooklyn kept watching the door through which Danielle had gone. I was holding her and no matter which way we turned, she squirmed around in my arms until she was facing the door where she last saw her Mother. I told her, “Momma’s coming back to get you after work,” and began to offer toys and play with her. Soon she got interested in other things and no longer kept looking toward the door. Throughout the day she went about the business of being a nine month old baby: eating, sleeping, playing, etc. I was glad that I was able to comfort her and make her feel secure enough to relax and be herself even though her mother had gone to work. That afternoon when Danielle returned, Brooklyn was overjoyed to see her. She stretched out her arms toward her mom and gave her lots of hugs and kisses.

That very morning before Brooklyn arrived, I had read the following scripture concerning our Lord’s ascension.

And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight. And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel; Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven. Then returned they unto Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is from Jerusalem a sabbath day’s journey. (Acts 1:9-12)

After receiving this reassurance of Jesus’ return, they went back to Jerusalem where Jesus himself had previously instructed them to wait for the promise of the Holy Ghost through whom they would receive power to become witnesses to the uttermost parts of the earth. The apostles were obedient to his command and waited in the assurance of the Hope of his return.

And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode both Peter, and James, and John, and Andrew, Philip, and Thomas, Bartholomew, and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon Zelotes, and Judas the brother of James. These all continued with one accord in prayer and supplication, with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren. (Acts 1:13-14)

Just as Brooklyn was able to spend her day growing and learning in the comfort of being her mother’s daughter while hoping for her return; so we should spend our lives being the obedient children of our heavenly Father, who has given us the Hope of the Lord’s return and the gift of the Holy Spirit to teach us and fill us with power to do his will until then. Brooklyn’s great joy at her mother’s return is a very tiny picture of the rejoicing we will experience at the fulfillment of our Hope in the Lord’s return.