Hope is Alive and Eternal

That faith and that knowledge come from our hope for life forever. God promised that life to us before time began... (Titus 1:2 ICB) 

Blessed [gratefully praised and adored] be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant and boundless mercy has caused us to be born again [that is, to be reborn from above-spiritually transformed, renewed, and set apart for His purpose] to an ever-living hope and confident assurance through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead (I Peter 1:3 AMP).  

Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we've been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven-and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you 'II have it all-life healed and whole (I Peter 1:4-5 THE MESSAGE).  

We were made right with God by His grace. And God gave us the Spirit so that we could receive the life that never ends. That is what we hope for (Titus 3:7 ICB). 

Grace arrives with its own instruction: run away from anything that leads us away from God... live life now in this age with awareness and self-control, doing the right thing and keeping yourselves holy (Titus 2:12 VOICE) 

… awaiting and confidently expecting the [fulfillment of our] blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus (Titus 2:13 AMP). 

Friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. May Jesus Himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech (II Thessalonians 2:15-17 THE MESSAGE).  

Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps His word (Hebrews 10:23 THE MESSAGE). 

Maybe you've heard this expression: "Hope springs eternal!" It's true. Wild hope is a living hope, an eternal hope, that never gives in, never gives up, never dies.  

Sometimes this hope may seem to fade. It might seem to falter. Sometimes it goes quiet for a while. Sometimes it goes underground-like a seed or a spring of water. But then, suddenly, it bubbles up again! It splashes all over the place. It bursts forth with new life, new growth, for a new season.  

That's because the ultimate Source of hope is always alive and well, forever eternal. The Bible describes it as "Christ in you, the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27 KJV). It's Jesus.  

It's Jesus, loving us and living in us and working through us and for us, that gives us hope. The Scripture describes Him as "our living hope" or "our living and certain hope" and "our only hope" (I Timothy 1:1 TLB, THE MESSAGE, VOICE).  

This hope can't be killed by criticism or ridicule. It can't be killed by negativity, by fear or doubt, by discouragement or even despair. It can't be killed by suffering or pain. It can't even be killed by evil. 

I mean, evil tried-but it didn't triumph.  

Jesus died, but He rose from the grave.  

And because He did, we have this powerful Hope that lives forever and ever, living inside of us today. 

All we have to do is receive it! Embrace it. Nurture it, nourish it, cultivate it. Protect it. 

Hold on to the hope He's given us-hang on for dear life! Knowing all the while that this living and eternal Hope is holding lovingly, faithfully-tightly-to us.