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

1 Peter 1:3
One of the most uncomfortable things about the future is the uncertainty that it brings. We have not been there yet, so we feel as though we do not know what to expect. Men love their old clothes because they are familiar with what to expect from them. Even when they become worn and tattered they give us a certain amount of comfort because we know what they are. My 14-year-old son, Micah, has a favorite shirt that has a huge stain on the side and back. He still loves wearing it because it is comfortable. He doesn’t pay attention to its deficiency. New requires that we learn how things fit.  

There will undoubtedly be mistakes and disappointments in the future. The words of the rich old hymn, Blessed Assurance Jesus is mine, give us confidence in what we know as we live in a world of uncertainties. It is not about being self-confident. Rather, our confidence rests in Christ, who he is and what he has done for us. This is what makes the life of a Christian so empowering. We believe in the all sufficient power and grace of God to rescue us from sin through Jesus Christ. We have “living hope”!  

The word hope in Greek is ἐλπίς (elpis). It does not mean, as we often think, wishful thinking. We say things like, “I hope the weather will be nice for the picnic.” We do not know what the outcome of the weather will be but we wish for the best. The hope of a Christian is distinctly different. Our hope is certain. We know what Christ has done for us. Our confidence is not based on our own ability or accomplishment, but it is anchored on faith in Christ Jesus our Lord. Living hope is putting our trust in God as we wait with certain anticipation of eternity with God in heaven. This peace can only be experienced through the Blessed Assurance Jesus is mine.