“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who… has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).
Here, Peter talks about two types of hope: living hope and dead hope.
If your hope is focused on becoming rich, famous, or powerful in this world, then it is a dead hope—because all of it will end when your life does.
So, what is the living hope we receive through Jesus’ resurrection? It means that if Jesus returns while we are alive, by His grace, we will be transformed! Some people, however, doubt whether they can be ready for Jesus’ return. They assume they must be on their deathbed, seeking sanctification in their final moments, in order to be taken up when He comes. But this is a dead hope.
Look at what Paul says: “We who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord… will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air” (1 Thessalonians 4:15,17). In other words, those who remain on earth and live with the hope of being transformed will meet Jesus when He comes.
Dear child of God, what kind of hope do you have? Is it a living hope or a dead one?
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people. It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope” (Titus 2:11-13). When God’s grace fills our lives, we will have a living hope. And only those with a living hope can truly live as faithful Christians. Amen.
