Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you. – (1 Peter 1:3-4, NIV)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has great mercy, and because of His mercy He gave us a new life. This new life brings us a living hope through Jesus Christ’s resurrection from death. Now we wait to receive the blessings God has for His children. These blessings are kept for you in heaven. They cannot be ruined or be destroyed or lose their beauty. – (1 Peter 1:3-4, ERV)
Blessed is God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One! Because He has raised Jesus the Anointed from death, through His great mercy we have been reborn into a living hope – reborn for an eternal inheritance, held in reserve in heaven, that will never fade or fail. – (1 Peter 1:3-4, VOICE)
Hope is waiting in anticipation for something good to happen, however, hope in Jesus is so much more. The hope we have in Christ is both now and for all eternity. In Him, we do not have to wait for “someday” to be filled with all the good that God provides. His peace, patience, gentleness, kindness, self-control, and overwhelming love are available now and into forever. With Jesus, we are filled to overflowing with His goodness and love, and have the promise of perfection with Him in heaven. Our ultimate blessings, our inheritance, are held for us in heaven, where Jesus has gone before us and prepared a place. For me, I have seen some of the most incredibly beautiful places on earth. The very same God who made the heavens and the earth, is preparing a place for us to dwell with Him forever. I cannot even fathom the beauty, goodness, warmth, and love that will constantly fill our hearts and beings as we enter His presence in heaven one day. Our anticipation of eternity is the living hope to which we can cling. May we ever seek the Lord to grow our hope in Him, both now and forevermore. For He is faithful to meet us and show us more and more of who He is and how He loves as we spend time with Him.
Hope is in waiting,
For something that’s good;
But hope in the Lord,
Through time has withstood.
Hope in Christ is now,
And forevermore;
His presence and peace,
Love opens the door.
The good that happens,
Forgiveness of sin;
In love, we’re made clean,
As we let Him in.
He fills us with hope,
Both now and always;
Peace granted right now,
Good throughout our days.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You are our hope now and the living hope that lasts forever. Thank You that in You, we are promised presence with You forever. Thank You that You are with us now by Your Holy Spirit, and that You are preparing a place for us to remain with You forever in heaven. Forgive us for our lack of hope when hard things happen. Teach us to cling to the truth of who You are and how You love, and to the promised future forever with You. Lead us to love like You, so that many may come into a lasting relationship with You as peace is made tangible and love is evident. Be glorified O God, as we live out our days with the hope that we have in the here and now, and with the hope we hold in the promise of dwelling with You forever. Amen.
© Shannon Elizabeth Grabrick and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. – Hebrews 10:23
Revelations In Writing 