Our Final Hope

By Joy Coats

A moment in time when all of creation stood still and welcomed the birth of its Creator, stepping out of heaven and into the hearts and lives of the very created...

Mary, a young girl, and Joseph, a carpenter, could not have imagined the journey on which they would travel after saying yes to the God of their fathers when He asked them to believe by faith all that He would reveal to them. A journey that would call them to an unyielding and firm determination to be part of the answer to a world's desperate need, the Messiah--Immanuel, God with us. How could the God of creation reach down into their simple lives and bless them with the final hope of a dying and lost world? Can they believe Him for it?

In a time when unmarried girls could be stoned for being pregnant before marriage, Mary must forge ahead with complete trust in her heavenly Father for protection and wisdom. Joseph must make a choice to believe all that his betrothed has just told him. Is it possible--the Messiah...in his home? Shepherds and wise men begin the ultimate pilgrimage that will forever change their lives and stories. A jealous king will seek to squash out his existence--He who will be our final and only hope.

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• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Oct 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9798885406741

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Our Final Hope

Joy Coats

ISBN 979-8-88540-673-4 (paperback)

ISBN 979-8-88540-674-1 (digital)

Copyright © 2022 by Joy Coats

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission requests, solicit the publisher via the address below.

Christian Faith Publishing

832 Park Avenue

Meadville, PA 16335

www.christianfaithpublishing.com

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Epilogue

About the Author

To all those who are doubting, unsure, and searching, as well as to fellow siblings in Christ. May it deeply impact your heart and greatly challenge your mind.

In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son.

—John 1:1–5, 14

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit.

—Matthew 1:18

That night there were shepherds staying in the fields nearby, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord's glory surrounded them. They were terrified, but the angel reassured them. Don't be afraid! he said. "I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign: You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger.

—Luke 2:8–12

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star as it rose, and we have come to worship him.

—Matthew 2:1–2

Our Final

Hope

Chapter 1

This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph.

—Matthew 1:18

Engagement, marriage—these were the big topics in her life at this time. She had lived a fairly carefree life with no serious thoughts of the future. Then she came of age, and childhood came to a screeching halt. The conversation began to revolve around her future. It was now necessary for her to understand how to care for her future home, her future children, her future husband. Cooking, sewing, gathering were all areas she needed to be well versed in, independent in. She had worked hard to accomplish each of these tasks. Now, her mother and father had begun seriously discussing arrangements for possible engagements, and it had brought them to this point.

Mary and her mother sat at the long wooden table in their home, chatting as they worked on making fresh bread in anticipation of her father's return. Upon his return, Mary's world would be determined. Her future would possibly be decided. Today, her father had gone to meet with Joseph and his family.

Joseph's parents, unfortunately, were not a part of this meeting as they had passed away when he was young. He had been cared for by his aunt and uncle, as well as his grandparents, as he grew up. His grandparents had also since passed on, so it was with his uncle and brothers that her father had gone to meet in order to determine if there would indeed be an engagement arranged between her and Joseph.

She jumped up and tried to occupy herself with helping her mother prepare bread as well as the grains for the midday meal, but her mind kept going to the what-ifs. What if there were no agreement? What if Joseph had changed his mind? What if her father decided he wasn't going to allow it? On and on it went until she had wound her nerves so tight that her heart had begun to race and her face flushed.

Her mother noted her flushed face as she moved about the small kitchen area, preparing ingredients.

Mary, take some deep breaths, child. It will be fine, she chided and then went on to recall her own experience. I remember when your dad and my dad met together to determine the contract and agreement of our engagement. I was so nervous. I could hardly sit still. Your grandmother sent me out to take care of the animals just to get me out of the house and stop me from pacing. She laughed as she remembered aloud. I guess it's when you are really hoping for something that it seems so hard to wait. But I have discovered, if you open your hand up to Yahweh with your struggle, He will take care of it for you. When you clamp your hand so tight, well He won't fight you for it. He will wait for you to trust Him and open your hand back up to Him. So stop fretting. Open your hand up, and let Him take care of this.

I know it's true, and I've been praying about it, trying to prepare for both instances, knowing that whatever the outcome, it will be His will for me, for both of us, Mary responded, but it is so hard not to get caught up in worry over every detail.

I know it is, and unfortunately, this won't be the last time. There will be many more times in your life that you will have to practice giving over your worries to Yahweh. Some days it will seem easy. Some days it will seem nigh unto impossible. By the time you get to be my age, you will have many sweet memories of times past where He has answered prayers and come through for you to remind you and strengthen your resolve not to worry. Those sweet remembrances help put away the worry that tries so hard to fill our hearts, her mother empathized.

After gathering more ingredients, Mary and her mother sat together at the table once more, mixing those ingredients for yet another batch of bread dough.

Her mind went to a few weeks ago when her father had asked her opinion in regard to marriage with Joseph, to which she had responded, Yes, Father, I care a great deal for Joseph. He is a good man who, I believe, would care for me as you do Mother.

Do you think you can love him? No, more importantly, can you give him your respect? he continued to probe.

I'm not sure if I can say love, but certainly I care for him a great deal. As for respect, I think he is a godly man, one I can depend on to do what is right. I trust him to protect me.

Can you trust him to make decisions for you and your future children?

From all the things I have seen of him, the way he treated his grandparents and treats his aunt and uncle, as well as the way he treats his nephews and nieces, yes, I believe I can trust him for those things, she confirmed.

Her father had not given her a definitive answer as to what his decision would be. He had only nodded and walked out to the courtyard.

When Mary turned to question her mother, she told her, He's gone out to pray in regard to your answer and our previous conversations. He told me this morning he would spend some time in prayer once more before sending word to Joseph and his family.

He had taken weeks to mull this over, discussing it with her mother, and praying. Finally, he had decided to send word to Joseph.

Coming out of her reverie, Mary said aloud to her mother, I wonder if they are talking right now.

Perhaps so, her mother casually responded with a quiet chuckle.

I wonder what they are talking about, Mary continued.

They are probably just discussing the weather, her mother chuckled out loud this time.

Mother, why are you laughing? You know how huge this is.

I know, child, but you know your father will do what's best for you. You can trust him. He has prayed long and hard over this. He has asked for your opinion and taken that into account. And well, you needed to smile. No, you needed a laugh to help you relax, she finished with a wink.

Mary looked mischievously at her mother, I wonder… I wonder how long they will take.

Her mom laughingly tsked. Oh, Mary.

With that, they worked on in silence, though a multitude of thoughts were swirling in Mary's mind still. Dare she dream yet of marrying Joseph? He had always been kind and thoughtful. He had even defended her a time or two when they were younger. Her mind was swept away to a moment in time when his family had come to visit. She had been out playing her own quiet game of three sticks, a game of jumping over three sticks and continuously moving them further and further apart, when one of her brothers, Elias, had come to interfere.

I can jump further than you, easy, he had taunted.

She at first had tried to ignore him and continued playing her game. When he saw she would not be challenged, he moved the sticks further apart on his own.

Hey, stop, Elias, I'm playing with them, she countered as she proceeded to move them back.

Come on, little Mary, let's see if you can beat me, he laughed.

I don't want to. I just want to play on my own, so stop before I tell, she threatened, hands on hips.

At that point, Joseph had walked up,