Living Hope

 2 Peter 1:16  For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 

            The translation “cleverly devised stories” indicates once again Peter’s efforts to warn people to be alert to those who would distort God’s truth and mislead people. Even the most well-intended Christian media—Christian movies, Christian song lyrics, Bible paraphrases—do not always present the truth of God’s Word. And often, it’s hard to tell the difference because it all sounds good. The danger comes when we so eagerly accept what we hear as Gospel Truth instead of opening the pages of our Bible—and that being an authentic translation, not a paraphrase.

            So what exactly was the message of Christ’s coming that Peter was preaching? For that we can look back in his first letter.

1 Peter 1:3-4  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.

            It is not we who can never perish, but it is the inheritance we receive from Christ that can never perish, spoil, or fade. There is a distinction. We are perishable in our human state. It is the promise of eternal life that is imperishable (i.e., cannot perish or cease to exist). And that promise will be fulfilled on the day of Christ’s return.

Colossians 3:4  When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17  For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.

2 Timothy 4:8  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Titus 3:5-7 He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Hebrews 9:28  …so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.

Hebrews 10:36-37  You need to  persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. For, “In just a little while, he who is coming will come and will not delay.”

James 4:14, 5:7-8  What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. … Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. …You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.

1 John 3:2  But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.

Revelation 21:2-4, 7  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” … “Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children.”

            If you have accepted Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you have the gift of salvation and you have the gift of the Holy Spirit dwelling within you, and you also have the promise of eternal life. Those are things you have now. Soon, when Christ returns to gather his people—both those who have fallen asleep and those who are alive and remain—then, at that time you will receive the gift of eternal life.  This is the Living Hope of which Peter wrote.

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Thank you for the precious promise of Living Hope. Comfort those who today sorrow the loss of loved ones. Comfort those whose thoughts become anxious as their own years bring the adverse effects of aging. Bring joy to our hearts in anticipation of your soon return to gather your children, for then we will receive the gift of eternal life in Christ.

            In the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, Amen.

 

The devotional Living Hope appeared first on Write From My Heart at writefrommyheartblog.blogspot.com

email: Dotty Willmon, writefrommyheartblog@gmail.com