A Hope That Doesn't Disappoint!

 Click here to listen to or read the One Year Bible Daily Readings

The Hope of Eternal Life

3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 1 Peter 1:3-5

A lot of people put their hope into a lot of things that only end up disappointing them. The stock market, their job, the government, even a relationship. Today Peter is writing to the Jewish exiles who have been scattered across Asia Minor due to the persecution of Christians by the Roman Emperor. It would been tempting for them to be without hope as well. 

But Peter tells them about the most important hope you have have which is eternal life. After all, our life here in the light of eternity is only a blip. But even though they are going through suffering here on earth, they can be sure their eternity is secure. How?

Because of the fact that Jesus was resurrected from the grave. Jesus rose from the dead which assures us that the hope we have in Him is a hope that will not disappoint us. In Romans 5:5 Paul says,  "And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."

While the inheritances we receive here on earth will eventually spoil and fade, our inheritnce in heaven can never perish. We will realize this inheritance, this living hope, when Jesus is revealed in the end times. Paul calls it a "living hope", because it is alive within us through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is proof that our inheritance in heaven is secure. 

There are many people in our society that feel "hopeless". They have lost hope due to failed promises, or putting their trust in things that cannot deliver true joy or peace. The Advent seaosn is a season of the year leading up to Jesus' birth is a time of hope. The word "Advent" means coming or arrival. The hopes of all those who were faithfully waiting for the Messiah were realized when Jesus was born in a manger in the little town of Bethlehem. We who live after Jesus was born, look forward to the Second Advent when Jesus returns. When we see him our hope will be fully realized just as God has promised. 

Who do you know who has lost hope? How can you reach out to them and share the living hope you have in Christ? Maybe it is even just doing something for them so they know someone cares. Those who lack hope need to see God's love through those who have been given the gift of hope by God's mercy. We have been given God's mercy, and we need to share it with others!  



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