Bec's Blog

 March 2026 Blog

 

The Count of Monte Cristo is a classic novel. It was written almost 200 years ago by a French author named Alexander Dumas. This book is about a young man, Edmond Dantes, who is a sailor about to be promoted to captain of the ship. He’s also newly engaged. It is at his engagement party he is abruptly arrested and taken away to one of the most horrific and notorious, isolated prisons in France. He is unjustly accused (due to jealousy), and imprisoned for a crime he did not commit. After fifteen agonizing years in a dank, dark dungeon, he at last becomes free. He finds a hidden treasure, (thanks to a fellow inmate) and returns to Marseille as the mysterious and incredibly wealthy “Count of Monte Cristo.”

 

This book spins quite a tale, and also explores themes of justice, revenge, and redemption. Ultimately, from the end of a movie version, someone suggests to Edmond that “love will heal.” And in the book, and movie, the phrase “you must have hope” is uttered. We must have hope. It is a truth of the human condition. Without it, we battle great depression and discouragement.

 

The apostle Paul wrote, in a letter to the people of faith in Corinth, “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.” I Corinthians 13a. He went on to say that the greatest of these is love. But don’t miss that he listed faith and hope right up there with love. The Bible tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please God.” (Hebrews 11:6) And we’ve already noted the importance of love. But what about hope?

 

The Old and New Testaments have a lot to say on this subject. Isaiah 40:31 is a famous verse which extols the promise of faith so strongly it says it will even give us strength and cause us to soar: “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”

 

Dr. John Claypool was a Baptist pastor who became an Episcopalian priest. He said this was because he wanted to explore more of the mystery of God. And that’s because of Isaiah 40. He said that this book actually saved him from walking away from faith completely after his beloved daughter died. His daughter’s name was Laura Lue, and she died of leukemia at the age of ten. Her 18-month battle with cancer, and then death, led to his well-known book “Tracks of a Fellow Struggler.” This book honestly shared his spiritual journey though intense grief. It was hope from Isaiah which ultimately drew him back from the brink of great despair. He would be the first to tell us “You Must Have Hope.”

 

The Psalmist answered in 121:12, “Where does my help come from?” “My help comes from the Lord…” Yes, beloved reader, we need to turn to God for the ultimate help with hope. When we have the hope which comes from our Lord Jesus Christ, we also find peace, and joy. This comes through the power of the Holy Spirit.

 

I pray you will refresh yourself with a good dose of hope this Easter season. And share it with others! “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” Romans 15:13.