Fill in the blank. My hope is in ______________________.

When Star Wars created the character Jar Jar Binks, they placed a lot of hope in the character becoming the next big side-kick for the epic ski-fi series.

They were wrong. Really wrong!

Fans couldn’t stand Jar Jar Binks. In the end, what would have likely been a prominent character only received brief cameos in subsequent films.

Sometimes we place our hope in the wrong things!

Sometimes, they’re great things; important things that have value and substance (unlike Jar Jar Binks). For example, we often place massive hope in our spouse, our children, travel, experiences, celebrities, leaders, careers, and the list goes on.

Unfortunately, none of these will provide a hope that lasts forever. In fact, the more we add to our lives, thinking that this next thing will bring about a greater sense of purpose, belonging, identity; they add more responsibilities, more struggles and eventually, they all move away, pass away or fade.

There is only One Hope (enter another shameless Star Wars plug) that lasts, and lives forever!

The Hope that Lives Forever

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:3-7

Peter is writing to an exiled group of Christians, reminding them that they have been “born again to a living hope”. For those of us who have given our lives to Jesus, we too have been born again into this living hope.

It is a living hope that is…

• Imperishable
• Undefiled
• Unfading
  • A living hope that is Kept in Heaven for us.

Which begs the question,

“What’s the opposite of a living hope?”

Consider the opposite of what Peter is explaining. Consider the opposite of what Jesus has to offer. The opposite is whatever we keep chasing in our lives; what we place our hope and faith and trust in.

Eventually, all of these become a dead hope that will…

• Perish
• Defile
• Fade
  • A dead hope that will be lost or left on Earth when we’re gone.

Consider these 5 Deadly Things We Place Our Hope In:

1. Humanity and “The Greater Good”

Some place their hope in humanity, or the greater good of humanity. That in the end, the good of human beings will win out, and that we can hope in that.

The result, a dead hope because humans beings are not inherently good, but totally depraved, and ultimately seeking self even when masked in humanitarian efforts. Instagram should be clear enough evidence of that.

2. Money and Possessions

Many in our modern era would likely agree that hope is wrongly placed in the wealth of possessions one has. And yet, so many people fall into this trap because we only think in terms of extremes.

However, for the day-to-day, working Joe or Jane, they fall into this trap. Unknowingly, they start thinking that if they can acquire enough, then they will have the purpose and meaning that they seek, and be fulfilled.

Another dead hope to which both Wall Street and Hollywood have given clear evidence, that wealth and possessions have no cap. As soon as we reach what we believe is ‘enough’ our minds move immediately to a tad more. One more raise, one more vacation, one more vehicle, one more… It’s never enough.

3. Career, Success & Experience

What about placing hope in a pursuit of career, success or the next great adventure? Surely that’s honourable, right? This can be wrapped in education, art, trade, travel or any form of project or journey. But soon an internal value is placed on what one does or where someone has been.

This dead hope can stay hidden, but around retirement it rears its ugly head. As people age, move out of the workforce, unable to do all that they once could; the things they placed all identity and emphasis in, fade. Soon enough, a depression or lack of belonging can set in.

4. Celebrities, Politicians and Sports Figures (or Even Pastors)

Everyone has their favourite hero. But it is a slippery slope from hero to saviour. Too often, the temptation slips in, to see a specific leader or public figure as the answer to a problem or the substance of value.

This too is a dead hope. Every single person we look up to, is a fallen human being like the rest of us. Including pastors, believe it or not! It’s so easy for us to place unrealistic expectations open our heroes, then we’re shocked when they disappoint us. If our hope is in a human being, that hope will eventually fade or fail.

5. Relationships, Including Children

This is the most damaging, but the most prevalent. We convince ourselves that if we meet the right person, if we fall in love, have the perfect wedding and honeymoon, we’ll be complete. After-all, this person is our everything, all we’ve hoped and dreamed for.

This person becomes a dead hope. Six months into the marriage, the person who was our everything becomes our annoyance. We have crushed them by placing all our hope in a fallen person just like us. They no longer “complete” us the way Hollywood said they would.

5.1 Then it gets worse!

At this point, we begin to think that adding children to the mix will bring about a greater sense of hope and meaning and value and purpose. “Children will bring us closer together,” we tell ourselves. But it doesn’t. It just makes the relationship circle wider and more difficult.

Parents then look to their children, hoping in them getting high grades, making the team and attending the right clubs, sports, and eventually college or university. Then our children disappoint us or refuse to follow our plans for their lives.

We crush them, our hope, and often their hope into the dust. They feel the weight of our parental yearnings, living vicariously through them. They fall in love with someone, and leave the parental relationship to the side. And worst of all, we’ve taught them what to chase for hope…and they’re unaware of the fleeting journey on which they have just embarked.

Instead, Cling to the Living Hope!

This is why Peter’s instruction is so pivotal for today! The only hope that lasts, that lives forever, is the Living Hope found through the Resurrection of Jesus.

Peter explains that this living hope is guarded by God. And that,

“In this you rejoice, though…you have been grieved by various trials…”

1 Peter 1:6

Jesus is the Hope that lives forever! Regardless of the struggle; no matter what experience or relationship complicating our lives. We have a living Hope in Jesus Christ, that we can cling to. That will stand the test of time, continuing into eternity.

Do I Need Jesus?

Maybe you’re asking yourself for the first time, “Do I need a Hope that lives forever? Do I need Jesus?”

We all need Jesus. He is the One who has paid for our sin on a cross, making a way; giving us gracious access to a holy and perfect God.

Three days later, we rose from the dead, conquering death and the sin that binds us. Today, you can accept Jesus, and receive the living Hope that will never end.