Colossae was an ancient city located in what is now modern-day Turkey. Although it appears that Paul never visited the city in person, he was still thankful for the faith of the believing community there. He begins his biblical letter to the Colossians by pointing out that he had heard of their faith and their “love that sprang from the hope stored up for them up in heaven” (Colossians 1:4-5) . As a result, he thanked God for them.
Hope is a powerful force. It seems to be in short supply these days.
Some years ago, I remember hearing of a lab experiment involving some not-so-fortunate mice. In a research project that I’m sure would never be sanctioned by animal-lovers, the researchers placed half of the mice in a glass-encased aquarium, which they then flooded with water. They counted down the seconds until the mice drowned. (As I mentioned, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals would never have approved of this study.) In the second half of the study, the researchers painted a door in the top of the glass aquarium. Keep in mind, the door wasn’t even real – but it resembled the door in the top of the cage where the mice had been living prior to their ill-fated involvement in the project. Researchers placed the other half of the mice in this second container with the door then flooded this aquarium with water as well. In this instance, the mice lived at least twice as long before they drowned. The whole time, they were pawing and scratching at the image of the door in the top of the aquarium, leading the researchers to conclude that hope is life-giving, powerful enough even to sustain life itself — at least for a while.
Although I was not able to verify the source (or the veracity) of this story (the lab was probably shut down for cruelty to animals), I have never forgotten the lesson — hope can lift us beyond imagined limits. Hope can empower us well beyond human capabilities. Believers in Colossae had discovered hope in the gospel of Christ Jesus. Frankly, we could use a little of this hope today.
When Jesus rescues us from darkness, it not only brings promise of a hope in the life beyond, but, in addition, it offers hope in the current life too.
(This piece is taken from a new book we’re writing that is designed to build momentum for disciple-making movements (DMMs). Watch for its release in the near future!)
Wow! Cannot wait to see the new book on the horizon!!!