Esperanza!

By Laurel D. Williams

Esperanza! I discovered this Spanish word for hope or expectation while reading a book to my daughter. Esperanza makes the word hope even more beautiful. It makes hope open and blossom, revealing the essence of its expectation.

"If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." (I Corinthians 15:19)
While reading this verse, the Lord illuminated His Word to my soul; "in this life only." Traditionally, we hear this passage at funerals. We read this as if we have hope only in our life. But who was Paul talking about? Whose life? The preceding verses give fresh insight!

Paul starts by reminding the Corinthians of what gospel he has preached. First, he preached how Christ died for our sins, that He was buried, and rose again. Christ was seen of the twelve and of 500 brethren. Christ was seen by Paul also. Then, he speaks about resurrection, for some of the Jews did not believe in resurrection from the dead. But if there is no resurrection, then Christ is not risen. (I Corinthians 15:13) If Christ did not rise, they were false witnesses. If the dead did not rise, Christ is not raised, and your faith is vain. (v.17) And, those that are asleep in Christ are perished. So, if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are most miserable. Whose life was Paul talking about? The Life of Christ! If our hope is only in Christ’s earthly life, we are most miserable! Yes, we hope in the earthly life of Christ; His beautiful parables, His Godly example. We cherish His words. We are inspired by His miracles, His compassion, and the wonders He performed on this Earth. But, our hope, our esperanza, is in so much more.

Our hope, our esperanza, is in His death! By His death our sins are utterly and completely forgiven and forgotten. By His death, our peace was purchased. By His death and suffering, our healing was purchased. He paid the sacrificial price of sin for once and for all for everyone. (Hebrews 2:9)

Our hope, our esperanza, is in His burial! It was at this time that He became triumphant over death, hell, and the grave. We have hope that as Christ died and was buried, we too can die to this "fleshly" man by being buried with Him in baptism. When we are buried with Him, we put on His glorious Name! "Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him by baptism into death..." (Romans 6:3-4)

Our hope, our esperanza, is in His resurrection! We hope in the newness of life. As Christ rose triumphant and ministered in a newness of life, so also can we. During this time He met with His disciples. He was preparing them for their new life- a life of mission, a life of service, a life of sharing the good news - the hope! As Christ rose, we can rise to walk in newness of life. "...That like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life." (Romans 6:4)

Our hope, our esperanza, is in His ascension! After the resurrection, came the ascension. Mortal took on immortality. Limited life changed to eternal life. He ascended to heaven with the angels and powers and authorities subject to Him. (I Peter 3:22) He ascended to become our great High Priest (Hebrews 4:14). When He ascended, He did not leave us alone. He left His promise, the Spirit. Without the ascension, the promised Comforter could not come.

Oh, what a wonderful hope we have! We have hope in His life! We have hope in His suffering and death. We have hope in His burial. We have hope in His resurrection. We have hope in His ascension and have received the hope of the promise of His Spirit! And because of that hope, one day we will change from mortal to immortal. We will leave this finite life for an infinite, eternal life with Him. What a beautiful hope, what a glorious hope! ESPERANZA!

"That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of His calling, and what is the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of His mighty power," (Ephesians 1:17-19)

"There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4:4-6)

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" (Colossians 1:27)

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant merct hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrectiob of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you." (I Peter 1:3-4)

"Beloved, now we are the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure." (I John 3:2,3)
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Editor's Note: Laurel Williams lives in Orange, Texas. She is married, with two daughters, and is a registered nurse. The Williams family attends the Eastgate United Pentecostal Church in Vidor (Pastor Bobby Edwards).