Easter Brings Hope

April 2026

Of all the holy days, Easter is the most glorious. It is the Resurrection Day, the day we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. The Apostle Peter, himself an eyewitness of the risen Christ, wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3). Oh, what a living hope we have!

Hope is a promise, a blessing, and way of life for the child of God. Because our Savior rose from the dead, we also will rise; because He ascended into heaven, we will one day ascend to be with Him in the glory of heaven; and because He defeated sin and death, we will leave behind this world of sin, evil, and corruption to live in perfect righteousness, holiness, and truth for eternity.

Hope gives us something to look forward to, something to live for, and something to die for — the hope that one day soon, and very soon, we will be with the Lord forever. There will be no more pain, no more sorrow, no more tears, and no more death. All things will become new for us. What a great hope!

A number of years ago, researchers performed an experiment to see the effect hope has on those undergoing hardship. Two sets of laboratory rats were placed in separate tubs of water. The researchers left one set in the water and found that within an hour they had all drowned. The other rats were periodically lifted out of the water and then returned. When that happened, the second set of rats swam for over 24 hours. Why? Not because they were given a rest, but because they suddenly had hope!

Those animals somehow hoped that if they could stay afloat just a little longer, someone would reach down and rescue them. If hope holds such power for unthinking rodents, how much greater should it affect our lives. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 says, “For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.”

Do you have this hope? Do you have Jesus Christ in your heart as your personal Savior? If you do, then my friend, you have hope — a hope that is real, secure, and unfailing. Christ died for our sins. He was buried, and He rose from dead. Easter brings hope!