The Hope Chest

By Barry N. Shaw

I have fond memories of a cherished family heirloom: my mother’s hope chest. I haven’t heard much about hope chests these days, but back in the 40's and 50's, hope chests were common. I recall how important that cedar chest was to my mother. It was handed down to her by her mother when she married my father. It had been in the family for many years.

Why was it called a “hope chest?”

They were originally “called wedding chests, but Americans later called them hope chests as in ‘hope for marriage’ and the promise of love and security.” Rachel Paxton (www.creativehomemaking.com) Iris Ruth Pastor wrote in Home Front Magazine (May/June, 2002): “Traditionally, hope chests were started when girls were in their teenage years - the years when they began to think of their futures. The hope chest became a symbol of both multigenerational faithfulness and optimism and confidence that the recipient would have a bright future.” Ms. Pastor also stated that the hope chest would “serve as a conduit for passing on the importance of family cohesiveness and continuity...”

The contents of my mother’s hope chest consisted of special things once owned by her mother and her mother’s mother and perhaps beyond: fine linen, her wedding dress, crocheted table cloths, a feather quilt, lace doilies, embroidered handkerchiefs, an old doll, a family Bible, and many other items that today would be antiques. I’m not sure what became of that treasured chest. It has long since been gone. But one of the things in my mother’s hope chest that has endured is the family Bible that sits on my bookshelf. It’s symbolic that the family Bible has endured while all the other possessions have since disappeared from view.

The hope chest is a place in which valued life possessions in anticipation of earthly marriage are stored. On the other hand, the Bible is a heavenly place in which great hope in anticipation of another wedding is recorded for eternity. Just as women in days of old stored their valued possessions in a hope chest in anticipation of a life of love and security with the man of their dreams, we store up the treasured promise of God, not in hope chests, but in our hearts. His promise gives us great hope. What is that great promise of God? Jesus said, “Behold, I am coming soon! Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” Revelation 22:7 “Yes, I am coming soon.” Revelation 22:20

In the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the Apostle John recounts the roar of the great multitude in heaven shouting for joy at the fulfillment of His promise: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and His bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean was given her to wear.” Revelation 19:6-8 Who is the bride that John speaks of? We who believe in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior—the body of Christ, i.e. the Church.

John saw what eternal hope fulfilled looks like: “ I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain...’” Revelation 21:2-4

Jesus Christ is our hope of heaven. His Word given to us as our Bridegroom assures us of the hope of salvation. 1 Thessalonians 5:8. Like brides of old, we look forward with excited anticipation, not of earthly things which pass through our hands like quickened sand, but of the things eternal that He provides to us: the hope of unfailing love (Psalm 33:18), the hope of faithfulness (Is 38:18), the hope of righteousness (Galatians 5:5), the hope of faith and love (Colossians 1:5), and the hope of eternal life (Titus 1:2), for He is called the Hope of Glory (Colossians 1:27).

My mother’s hope chest has disappeared from view just as all things of earth will one day disappear, but the Word of God endures as a heavenly hope chest providing eternal assurance of love and security — forever.

Barry N. Shaw writes from Applegate Valley, Oregon.