A Living Hope
Without encountering God in the Lord Jesus Christ, life can be extraordinarily bleak—an empty, hopeless existence. There are not enough things to do that will fill the emptiness. There are not enough occasions to look forward to. It is impossible to amass enough material possessions or take enough vacations to be able to fill up the human soul.
But the child of God has been delivered from this realm of hopelessness. When we place our trust in Christ, we are removed from bondage to “the domain of darkness” (Colossians 1:13) and are “born again to a living hope.” The believer’s hope is alive and it is fulfilling because it is rooted firmly in our risen, ascended, and reigning Savior. Our hope no longer hinges on ourselves or our circumstances; rather, “the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” is the guarantee that our hope is secure.
Our hope is also eternal. God promises believers a future inheritance that is absolutely certain. Peter describes for us the unique nature of this inheritance; it is untouched by death, unstained by evil, and unimpaired by time. There is no possibility of it diminishing or disappointing because it can’t perish, it can’t spoil, and it can’t fade—and it’s kept in heaven with our name on it.
Not only is our hope living and eternal, but it is also shielded by the power of God Himself. Indeed, Peter describes believers as those “who by God’s power are being guarded.” When we become aware of the rigors of sin or we are buffeted by the brokenness of this fallen world in our life and we’re tempted to despair, here’s the wonderful truth: God has garrisoned us and shielded us. We will not be lost. And in this promise the beleaguered believer finds strength and renewed hope.
What is it that puts a spring in our step, no matter how steep the path? What is it that lifts our chins off our chests and keeps us looking forward with joy? What can truly fill your soul and bring you through whatever hard situations you are facing as you read these words? It is this truth: that, because of God’s great mercy, you have been born again to a living hope—a hope which nothing can ever spoil and that no one can ever take from you (John 10:28).
How is God calling me to think differently?
How is God reordering my heart’s affections — what I love?
What is God calling me to do as I go about my day today?
Future Glory
18For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.
26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. 27And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because7 the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. 28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good,8 for those who are called according to his purpose. 29For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Devotional material is taken from the Truth For Life daily devotionals by Alistair Begg, published by The Good Book Company, thegoodbook.com. Used by Truth For Life with permission. Copyright © 2021, 2022, The Good Book Company.
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