Waiting in Hope

Many across the world, and certainly most of Thailand, currently wait in the hope of seeing a group of young boys and their coach being rescued from the cave where they are trapped. It is quite an unbelievable situation and one has to wonder as to how it happened, but wondering will not help in this instance.  An amazing group of experts has gathered from across the world in the hope of doing what looks to be the impossible.  

My prayers join with those of their parents and others worldwide that God will guide the rescuers and give courage to the boys so that they can be restored to their waiting families.  We just received a newsflash to say that the rescue has begun, so we hope and pray that there will soon be an empty cave and a successful rescue.  Our hopes are pinned on those brave rescuers.

Thinking of this reminds me of my visit to Waitomo Caves in NZ many years ago.  Amazing, yes, and glad I did it, yes, but I don't feel the need to go into another cave ever again!!  

I am reminded of an empty cave where hope was born some two thousand years ago.  A cave where Jesus Christ had been laid to rest a couple of days before.  His followers had pinned their hopes on him and all hope seemed lost when he was carried from that cross to his grave in the cave.  But all was not lost, it was part of a process which God had purposed before the foundation of the world (1 Peter 1:20).  

On the first day of the week some women came to that cave wondering how they would move the great stone which had sealed it so that they could anoint his body, as was their custom.  To their great surprise the cave was empty and an angel told them that Jesus had risen from the dead.  During the next 40 days Jesus appeared to them in many ways and places in his resurrected body until he was taken up into heaven.  Jesus Christ, the only leader of any faith who has been raised from the dead.  He is our hope of eternal life ...... if we believe and follow him.  

To Ponder: "I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honour at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.  Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come."  Ephesians 1:19-21 NLT