The Hope Chest

Do you remember “hope chests?”  In our family they were an important part of preparing for marriage. 

When I was young, little girls were often told that they needed to grow up and marry a good man, have children, and live happily ever after – and we know now that it doesn’t always work that way.  Especially the “happily ever after” part.  

I’m grateful to God that, with His help, ours did work.

But let’s talk a little bit about hope chests.  Mine was a blond cedar chest.  It was where I put everything I was sure I would need to have a wonderful “ever after.” 

It contained an eight-place setting of china, the silverware that my folks gave me as a gift, crystal goblets that I bought, one at a time to add to the beauty of my future table. 

I worked to fill that hope chest with things that I believed would add beauty to my marriage – to my home.  For instance, there were pillowcases with crocheted edges that my grandma helped me with.  There were kitchen towels embroidered with the days of the week and some with flowers or cute little gardeners in bright colors (as if I would use each towel on the specified day.)

That hope chest was full of things I wanted to bring into my marriage as well as my hopes and dreams.

Well this young lady did grow up, marry a good man, have children, and lived happily ever after – well happily most of the time.

Marriage to a “good man” is not the guarantee of happiness in every part of a person’s life.  But there is one person who is a guarantee of hope and a beautiful future.

That’s our Savior.  He is the only one who is able to promise a life of “happily ever after.”  He is the only one who did fulfill that promise. 

Jesus, the eternal Son of God, is (as the Bible puts it) the Bridegroom.  He is the one who paid with His life for the Church – the Bride of Christ.  That’s us!  All Christians – we make up the Church.  Of course, we’re not talking buildings or denominations – we’re talking about those people have accepted Jesus as their Savior.  We’re the Church, the Bride of Christ.

Just like my hope chest, there is a place for us to put those things that will, and do, make our lives with Christ beautiful.  That place is our heart.  In our hearts we store memories of the times God has walked with us, helped us, and held us.  In our hearts we store the words of God written in the Bible.  Words that God has made sure we could read and learn. 

In our hearts.  In our hearts - we store the knowledge of God that was written there from the beginning of time.  The Bible tells us that God puts into our hearts, His Joy, His love, His spirit, His light and His peace.  So, I’d like to talk about those things.

• He fills our hearts with joy – you’ll find that in Acts 14:17.
• He poured out His love into our hearts -  Romans 5:5
• He sent His Spirit to dwell in us – 1 Cor 3:16
• He made His light shine in our hearts - 2 Corinthians 4:6
• He gave us His peace to rule our hearts. - Colossians 3:15

So, God’s Joy, His love, His spirit, His light and His peace are placed in the hope chests of our hearts.  Unlike the things in my hope chest, these are meant to be used and shared, not put away, waiting for a special day.

If we read the scriptures we find that, when Christ comes again, He is coming to collect His bride – the church (Christians.)  And it would sure be a good idea if we were to prepare for His coming with what will last.  It would be a good idea to hold and to share and use those beautiful things that God has given us – and if we do, they will be beautiful still when He comes again.

I wrote this little poem as I was figuring out what to say today.  I hope it will mean something to you.

I open the chest and gently place there

another fair treasure with infinite care.

I touch each small piece, each work of my hands

and treasure each moment, each part of the plan.

Earthly treasures, earthly riches,

gathered, stored and placed inside,

will they last into the future,

or die with hopes unsatisfied?

Heavenly treasures, Heavenly riches,

Never earned by earthly right.

His Joy, His peace, will last forever

with His Spirit, love and light.

They’ll last forever set apart,

In the hope chest of my heart.