“Rest your hope fully on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13).
Dear Praying Friends:
We are creatures of hope. We look to the future for a happiness that eludes us now, longing for things to be better.
In ordinary usage, “hope” often refers to a longing, a desire, a wish for something future. This desire gives us energy and optimism and the will to go on. We place our hope on many things: graduation; marriage; a happier marriage; a child; a house; a job, or a better job; success in work, etc.
The problem is, of course, that these “hopes” often disappoint us. After all, we live in a fallen world.
The New Testament uses “hope” in a very different sense, to refer to the sure and certain expectation that, when Christ returns, he will raise us up in glorified bodies to enjoy life with God and with other believers forever in a new heaven and a new earth (Romans 8:18-21; 1 Peter 1:3-5; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1-6). Those who fix their hope entirely on this future will never be disappointed, though in this life they will face trials and troubles of all kinds.
“Looking for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).
Yours in this hope,
Wright