Hope Everlasting

Hope Everlasting

Hope everlasting, written by Mari-Anna Stålnacke
Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash

What’s your takeaway from Easter celebrations? For me, it is the radical hope we are now offered for free. Because Jesus walked out of the tomb, we have hope everlasting. Eternal life is now open for all who believe in Jesus. This is radical, life-changing, and liberating.

But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. 22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Cor. 15:20-22, NIV)

Colin Smith has said, “The message of Easter is not that Jesus is alive, it is so much more. The message of Easter is that Jesus has risen!” When you first read this, you might ask “what’s the difference?” The difference is that you have hope everlasting with the latter. If Jesus had not died and risen, our sins would still be on us.

Hope everlasting

With the words of Paul Ricoeur “If the Resurrection is resurrection from the dead, all hope and freedom are in spite of death.” In spite of death, suffering, and evil in the world, we have hope eternal. And this hope is not wishful thinking, this is an all-powerful, life-giving, living hope. This hope fights for us and crates life within us. And this hope leads us into eternal life.

Celebrate with praises the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has shown us his extravagant mercy. For his fountain of mercy has given us a new life—we are reborn to experience a living, energetic hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. (1 Peter 1:3, TNT)

So I keep on celebrating resurrection all year long. It is my life source, my happiness, my joy. Because Jesus has risen, I have direct access to my Father in Heaven. I would not trade it for anything. Because of Jesus, I have hope everlasting, also in dark days. And so do you. Just open your heart to receive hope upon hope, life upon life.

Gracious God,
Thank you for the precious gift of the resurrection of Jesus.
We are not worthy yet you loved us so much.
Thank you for letting Jesus die for us and resurrecting him on the third day.
We are in awe of your sacrifices for us.
Thank you for all the prophecies of the Old Testament coming true in Jesus.
We are amazed by your salvation plan.
Thank you for giving us hope everlasting.
Now show us how to implement that in our everyday life.
We want you, we need you, we love you.
Be forever praised!
In Jesus’ precious name,
Amen

P.S.

What a radical and extraordinary gift the resurrection of Jesus is! Let us celebrate and praise God every day of our lives. The best way to do it is to give our lives as living sacrifices to God. How do we do that? By surrendering to God daily and building our whole lives on the promises of God. Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim! God is with you wherever you go!

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