The St. Louis

In May 1939, the German ship St. Louis carried 937 Jews fleeing Germany headed to safety in Cuba. For the two-week journey, they felt relief and hope. But, although the passengers had permits, Cuba would not allow them to step foot onto shore. Leaving Cuba, they sought asylum from both the United States and Canada but were rejected. They returned to Europe and were allowed into four countries for refuge: the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. They were safe for a moment. Those in France, Belgium, and the Netherlands suffered through the Holocaust, and 254 died. Only the 288 in the UK really found safety.

Hope is the confident assurance of receiving God’s promises. Those without Christ lack the true hope in Jesus Christ.

Fleeting Hope

When arriving at Cuba, passengers on the boat hoped in Cuba as their salvation. Quickly, their hope turned to despair. Some even saw their family members on shore, yet they were not permitted to join. They had believed that they were free from the horrors of the Holocaust. Their confidence was indeed not confident at all. Each new hope was dashed.

This seemingly confident hope led to the majority of the passengers suffering in the Holocaust. Their hope did not come to fruition. Even if they had been able to land in Cuba, for those not in Christ that safety was temporary and fleeting. Any hope placed in this world can be stripped away in a moment. The ultimate future is eternal damnation in hell, suffering infinitely more than in the Holocaust. The only confidence a non-Christian can have is eternal damnation.

The world believes their version of hope has confidence. This confidence is fleeting. They put their trust in earthly saviors instead of in Christ. These “saviors” cannot save.

Hope in the Lord

God’s children, however, can have full confidence in His promises. “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God” (Ps. 20:7). Our trust in the Lord is far greater than any trust in this world. Regardless of any life circumstances, a Christian has eternal, everlasting hope beyond this physical life. One could suffer greatly, even suffer through the Holocaust, and have more hope in eternal life than any unbeliever who lived in ease. It is not what is in this world that matters but eternity with Christ. Christ Himself says, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36). We can look forward to the time where evil is gone and our hope is fulfilled. “Death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore” (Rev. 21:4). All will be restored and darkness taken away.

What now?

Remember the hope of salvation you have in Christ and praise the Lord for that gift. Share that hope with others so they may find that hope as well.