2 Thessalonians 1: Hope: The Kingdom of God

2 Thessalonians 1: Hope: The Kingdom of God

Reflecting on 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5:

"Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. This is evidence of God’s righteous judgment, that you may be deemed worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are indeed suffering."

Recently, my seven-year-old son has become captivated by a song called "100 Great People Who Brightened Korea." We were singing along enthusiastically when I realized that Kim Gu, a prominent figure in the Korean independence movement, isn't mentioned. The song includes folk heroes, fictional lovers, and even gangsters, yet Kim Gu is absent.

This passage brings to mind the era of those who fought for Korean independence, risking their lives. What drove them to embark on such a perilous path? How did they endure such immense suffering, sacrificing not only themselves but their families as well?

I believe it was the hope of a free and independent Korea. The hope of reclaiming a nation stolen by Imperial Japan, a nation where their people could live as masters of their own destiny, gave them the strength to persevere through unimaginable hardship.

Kim Gu’s words, "If our nation achieves independence, I wish to be a gatekeeper for the independent nation," clearly reveal where his hope lay.

The Thessalonian Christians also endured and overcame persecution because of hope. They anticipated the day of Jesus' return. On that day, they believed, those who persecuted them would face judgment, and they would find relief from their tribulation and enter into rest.

Just as the independence activists, fueled by the hope of liberation, sacrificed themselves and their families for their cause, Christians follow the path of discipleship, sustained by the hope of Jesus' return and the resurrection.

We don't follow Christ for prominent positions at his side or for earthly riches and glory. We follow him because his teachings and life resonate with truth. We follow him because we believe in the promise of his return and the resurrection.

We hold onto the hope of that day when love and justice will prevail. It is this hope that sustains us as we strive to live each day focused on Jesus.

Prayer: Merciful God, grant us the steadfastness to hold onto the hope of that day, the day of your return, when love and justice will reign. Guide us with your Holy Spirit and your truth. Amen.