Hope for the future – and for today - 4 May 2023
By Xanthe Hancox
Um(Imi)bhalo weBhayibheli
2 kaPetru 3
It’s easy to become discouraged by the state of the world around us. We see wars, natural disasters, injustice, and suffering, and we wonder if things will ever get better. But in this passage, Peter reminds us that there is hope for the future.
God has promised us a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. A world without sin, suffering, or death. A world where God’s goodness and love reign supreme. This is the hope that we look forward to, and it’s a hope that can sustain us through even the darkest times.
But this hope isn’t just for the future. It’s also for the present. When we live in light of this hope, we are reminded that this world is not our home. We are pilgrims passing through, looking forward to our true home in heaven. This perspective can give us the courage to stand up for what is right, to love our neighbours, and to share the hope that we have in Christ.
So today, let’s look forward to the new heaven and the new earth that God has promised us. Let’s live in hope, trusting that God is at work even when we can’t see it. Let’s be a light in the darkness, pointing others towards the hope that we have in Christ.
Prayer: Dear God, thank you for the promise of a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. Help us to live in light of this hope, trusting that you are at work even when we can’t see it. Give us the courage to stand up for what is right, to love our neighbours, and to share the hope that we have in you. Help us to be a light in the darkness, pointing others towards your love and grace. Amen.
