Hope Has Come to Stay
Every night, I read a Bible story to my girls before tucking them into bed. The nativity story is one of their favourites. As with most 4 year olds and 2 year olds, their favourite question is "Why?". Why was there no more room in the inn? Why was Jesus born in a stable and not in the hospital? Why was there no doctor to help Mary give birth.. you mean Joseph had to be the doctor?
Many of these questions, innocent as they may be, strike at the heart of God's love for us.
I wrote Hope Has Come to Stay when I was in isolation with my 8 month old due to COVID-19. Spending extended time with her (changing every diaper, feeding every meal, putting her to sleep) made me ponder plenty of "Whys?" as well. Why would the Almighty God of the universe choose to come into this world as a helpless baby, totally dependent on the very people whom He created? Why would the God of Heaven give up everything, not to be born in a palace, but in the most unsanitary of conditions, using a horse's feeding trough as a makeshift baby cot? Why would the tiny hands of this precious baby eventually stretch out to be nailed to the cross for our sins?
Because Jesus loves us. Because He wants us to know that He identifies with and understands intimately what poverty, pain, suffering and death is. He willingly went through all of that for us. He became one of us, that He may be one with us. Jesus did not only come to visit us - Jesus came to stay with us.
Through this song, I sought to capture the essence of the Christmas story in a simple way such that little children would understand - Jesus' birth, death and resurrection, and His coming return. Because of Jesus, we have a Hope that will last and stay with us no matter what.
In the words of my 4 year old:
"Papa, when I sing this song so deeply, I feel like crying, but these are tears of joy. I'm sad that Jesus died on the cross, but I also feel happy that He came to save us."
When Jesus first came to this world, there was no room for Him. He will return one day. Will there be room in your heart for Him when He does? Hope has come to stay.
The common definitions of hope refer to wishes and desires; as well as aspirations for the future. But all these are fleeting and temporal. The joys and pains of life will soon pass, and life itself won't last.
There is a Hope that endures beyond the temporary longings of this life. Christmas reminds us that Hope is a person. Hope's name is Jesus. And this Hope will last for eternity.
This Hope is a gift. All we have to do is receive. Do you have Hope? Do you want Hope? Hope has come to stay.