In this uncertain time, you can still live with hope in GOD. Hope means to look to the future with confidence and security, and real confidence is based on God and the promises that He gives us in the Bible. Our hope comes from the resurrection of Jesus when He opened the way for us to live near to Him and receive abundant life.
When we face great challenges, it is so important to have hope and to keep our hope. The Lord promises in Jeremiah 29:11 that He has 'plans to give you hope and a future'. As we continue to look at the impact of Christ’s resurrection, we see lessons from 1 Peter 1:3-4 about how we can live with hope.
1. We can have the living hope of God’s love for us (Romans 5:8, 1 John 3:1, Romans 8:37-39)
2. We can have the living hope of new beginnings (Romans 6:4, Romans 15:13)
3. We can have living hope for the future:
- In this life (Hebrews 2:18, Romans 15:4)
- In the life to come (Revelation 1:17-18, Hebrews 2:14)
Apply
Are you personally assured of the great love that God has for you as an individual? Do you think you have messed up too much or have gone too far away from God for Him to really love you? Peter understood all about the mercy of Jesus because He himself had received forgiveness after denying the Lord. He, like other New Testament writers, were full of wonder at God’s love for sinners who have failed and done wrong. Romans 5:8 says “God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” and 1 John 3:1 assures you: “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!” God’s intention is for you to know his love at all times and in every situation. Romans 8:37-39 promises that nothing "will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." Ask the Lord to make His powerful love real to you today. As you discover how much God loves you, you will also be filled with living hope.
Do you need a fresh start in your life? Do you struggle to be free from negative situations in your past? Because Jesus is alive, you can also have the living hope of a fresh start. Romans 6:4 says: "just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of God the Father, we too may live a new life"’ This happens when you repent, which means to turn around from living your own way to living God’s way. You may have many fears or be carrying guilt. You may have habits and addictions that bring great trouble to your life or you may feel there is no way out of your problems. But there is always hope for you: through the blood of Jesus and the power of His resurrection you can be set free. You can know His power every day and in every situation. No matter what holds you back, no matter how you have failed, you can have a second chance through the conquest of the resurrection. You can know a total change in your life and be born again with a new heart and a new spirit. Today you can personally experience the hope of new beginnings. Pray and invite the Lord into your heart to make this your reality. Ask God to give you that fresh start, and make a decision to put your hope in Him every day.
Are you confident about your future or do you fear what might happen in the days and years to come? Do you live with the hope of eternal life or does the thought of death cause you fear and uncertainty? Every Christian is an heir to a great inheritance of blessing that can never be lost. You can be blessed both in this life and in the life to come. Christ came to earth to experience what we experience and show us how to conquer every trouble and temptation (Hebrews 2:18). Whilst certain situations might surprise you, God is not surprised by anything. He knows what will happen to you before it happens and can guide you through all circumstances as you patiently wait for Him to fulfil His promises to you (Romans 15:4). Christ has also gone ahead of you in death. Jesus conquered the greatest and final enemy of death through his own death and resurrection (Revelation 1:17-18, Hebrews 2:14). Of course death is a painful reality, but you don’t have to fear death anymore. For the Christian, death is the beginning of a wonderful new life in Christ’s presence. It is the moment you move into the heavenly home that Christ has prepared for you. Today you can be full of hope in any situation. Ask God to help you to know that there is hope for the future in this life and the next.
