Living Hope

What is a living hope? It is a hope that is alive, that is springing forth; it is a hope that is flowing and gushing out of our innermost being. And hope is a confident expectation. It’s not like, “I wish,” or “I hope I win the lottery.” Biblical hope is a confident expectation based on the solid certainty of God. It’s not wishful thinking.

1 Peter was written to the churches in Asia Minor to give believers who were living in difficult times true hope – living hope – right in the midst of their difficulty and persecution. It was written to give believers courage, strength, and confident assurance that the Bible calls living hope.

1 Peter 1:3–6 (NLT)
3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, (ESV – ‘we’ve been born again to a living hope’)
4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay.
5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready (completely ready) to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
6 So be truly glad (rejoice). There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 

Verse 5 says it’s the power of God that protects you. But what part do you need? Faith. And the faith is given to you by God (Ephesians 2:8-9). You have to exercise that faith.

So, we can rejoice right now. We can be truly glad today. As believers, we can rejoice today because there is a wonderful joy ahead even though in this world, we will have tribulation. But take heart (Jesus says in John 16:33) Stand strong – be confident because Jesus Christ has overcome this world on our behalf.

Biblical hope is never “wishful thinking!” Biblical hope is defined as a confident expectation based on solid certainty. It is never “I hope so” – it is always “I confidently know.” And right now, we need that confident expectation based on solid certainty. We need to be able to rejoice in our true, Living Hope.

In order to do this, first, we’ve got to know that we’ve been born again, that we have surrendered our life to Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord. Then, you’ve got to begin to truly know who God is.

Hebrews 6:18–19 (NLT)
18 So God has given both his promise and his oath . . . [and] it is impossible for God to lie. Therefore, we who have fled to him for refuge can have great confidence as we hold to the hope that lies before us.
19 This hope (this confidence in our great God) is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls . . .

You know, there are over one hundred names for God in the Bible. Each one is a reference to WHO God IS (exists as).

Our God is:
Jehoshua = The Lord is my salvation
Jehovah Tsidkenu = The Lord is my Righteousness
El Roi = The God who Sees me
Jehovah-Shalom = The Lord is my Peace
Jehovah-Jireh = The Lord will Provide
Jehovah-Nissi = The Lord is my Victory

And that is just the very beginning of WHO our God IS. But we must seek to know him in all that he is in order for us to live in this confident (Living) Hope.

In the Psalms, the Lord is:
My King and my God – Psalm 5:2
My Rock, my Fortress, - Psalm 18:2
My Shepherd - Psalm 23:1
My Light and Salvation - Psalm 27:1
My Refuge and Strength – Psalm 46:1
My Hope and Confidence – Psalm 71:5
My Portion forever – Psalm 73:26
My Dwelling place - Psalm 90:1
My Strength and Song - Psalm 118:14
My Help - Psalm 121:2
My Deliverer – Psalm 144:2 . . . and a HUNDRED Other things

We've got to know this great God who has given us this great hope in order for us to walk in it.

Psalm 103:2-5 - Isaiah 40:31, 41:10, 43:2
John 10:27-29 - Philippians 1:6, 4:6-9, 4:11-13
Hebrews 4:15–16 - Romans 8:31-39

This living hope comes only through truly surrendering your life to Jesus Christ, making him your Savior and your Lord, and through a genuine abiding daily relationship with him.

If you have not truly surrendered your life to Jesus Christ in order to take hold of this Living Hope – please do that today.