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“according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope” (1 Pet. 1:3)
Electric cars have been in the news quite a bit lately, particularly with gas prices going through the roof. One area of concern has been how far the cars can travel on a single charge. Even the most capable of batteries holds the potential of leaving a driver stranded when its charge is depleted.
As Christians, we do not need to be worried about reaching our destination. Peter tells us we are powered by a living hope.
What is a living hope? First, let’s understand what hope is. Hope is not wishful thinking. “I hope it doesn’t rain.” “I hope my team makes the playoffs.” That sort of hope is more hope-so. It carries no assurance, only possibility.
The hope Peter has in mind is more settled. It carries certainty. There is nothing hope-so, nothing iffy, about it. It engenders confident expectation, assured conviction, vibrant certainty. It will neither fail nor will it disappoint.
From our experience, even the surest of things can fail. How can Peter speak with such certainty? It’s because our hope as Christians is living. The battery will never die. The promise will never fail. Such hope cannot be dashed.
How is our hope living? It is alive with the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. Our hope lives because Christ lives. Our hope cannot fail because Christ cannot die. He lives and reigns in victory.
When Paul talks about this hope he lifts our eyes to what God in His great mercy has done for us. “For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him” (1 Thess. 5:9–10).
No wonder Peter incites us to the praise of God. No wonder Paul urges us to encourage one another with this unshakable reality for us as Christians.
REFLECTION: Our hope is alive with the life of the risen Christ. Pray to know the peace of hope.
Unless noted otherwise, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright ©1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.