Living Hope

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope . . .”—1 Peter 1:3 (NKJV)

The hope that God gives us, which is an extension of His eternal nature, does not have an expiration date! It doesn’t expire with this past year, nor will it next year, or the year after that, or any year for that matter. 

In all actuality, it is just the opposite. The hope that God has given to us, the assurance of our inheritance of eternal life with Him, doesn’t fade with the passing years. It increases in luster and radiance!

Let’s face it, time isn’t waiting for any of us. It rolls on, and as it does, we are brought closer and closer to the inevitable passage of this life to the next. Whether this passage is prompted by the Lord’s sudden return for His Church or by the natural process of death, our living hope in what lies ahead grows more and more valuable.

But the assurance of this hope is firmly founded on a fixed reality that’s been accomplished in the past. Notice what Peter ties our living hope to: “Through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3 NKJV).

What makes our hope living? The fact that it’s based on the greatest demonstration of life that our world has ever seen, the resurrection! While our hope looks confidently ahead to the next year and the future beyond, it springs from the headwaters of the empty tomb, where we’ve been given a preview of the everlasting life that awaits us! Jesus said it best in John 14:19 (NKJV) when He said, “Because I live, you will live also.” 

So, as we look ahead to a year that is filled with uncertainties, we can be certain our hope is as alive as Jesus is and will continue to grow and gain in glory.  
 
DIG: What happens to our hope with the progression of time?

DISCOVER: What event is the basis of our hope? 

DO: Spend time reflecting on the things we can be certain of in the year ahead.

About the Author

Pastor Dan Hickling

Pastor Dan Hickling serves our online community, also known as the Calvary Chapel Online Campus. He and his wife Becky have been married for 22 years and have two children, Lauren and Danny. Both Dan and Becky have been part of the CCFL church family for 22 years and have served in full time ministry for 20 of those years.