Renewing Your Mind – Future Hope: The Resurrection of Everything
Air Date: April 4, 2026
Host: Nathan W. Bingham
Speaker: Dr. Gabe Fluor
Podcast: Renewing Your Mind by Ligonier Ministries

Episode Overview

In this special episode, Dr. Gabe Fluor explores the theme of "future hope" found in the resurrection of Christ, as part of the series How the Resurrection of Christ Changes Everything. The episode reflects deeply on how modern society grapples with hopelessness, the biblical grounds for unshakeable Christian hope, and the ultimate promise of the resurrection—not just for individuals, but for the renewal of all things. Through personal stories, Scripture exposition, cultural critique, and vivid biblical imagery, Dr. Fluor points listeners to the certainty and power of resurrection hope.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Child-like Faith and Hope

• Personal Story: Dr. Fluor shares a touching family anecdote to frame the episode (00:00 – 02:16).
  • His 4-year-old daughter, over dinner, remarks, “We’re all going to die. But that’s okay because Jesus moved the stone.”
• Insight: This simple, profound truth from a child highlights that true hope is only found in the resurrection of Christ.
  • “She’s actually listening to us… All of us are looking for hope. If the resurrection offers us one thing, it offers us hope.” (02:16)

2. Modern Hopelessness and Its Causes

• The ‘Death’ of Hope:

  • Dr. Fluor examines cultural factors that suffocate hope: materialism, endless amusement, distraction, abundance, and cynicism (02:16 – 07:05).
  • Quote from Richard Dawkins: “The universe that we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is at bottom… nothing but pitiless indifference.” (03:24)
  • Critique of secular and material worldviews that foster “hopelessness.”
  • Observes that technological advances, social media, and constant entertainment keep people distracted and make deep reading or meditation harder.
  • “All the advertising, all the social media, it has a goal to make us discontent constantly... All of these things can combine to deaden our hope of heaven.” (05:30)

• Cultural Shift to Cynicism:

  • Last 50 years saw a shift from “naive optimism” to “cynicism.”
  • Secular promises of self-improvement, education, or technological utopia have repeatedly failed. Society ends up “hollowed out... a chestless culture.” (06:25)

3. The Resurrection Rekindles Hope

• Scripture Exposition—2 Corinthians 5:1-5 (07:05 – 11:30)

  • Analyses Paul’s metaphor of “clothing,” representing the longing for redemption and the effects of sin (nakedness/shame).
  • The hope is not in human achievement (transhumanism, technology) but in God’s provision through Christ’s resurrection.
  • “That kind of clothing will never work, because death is not just something natural... No, death is part of the fall. As we’ve seen, it’s a curse that only is overcome when God clothes us.” (10:17)

• Contrast with Modern Utopianism:

  • Critiques writers like Yuval Noah Harari and the “Homo Deus” idea: humanity as its own savior.
  • “If you’re looking where the Tower of Babel is being built, look no further than the modern technological industry.” (09:33)
  • Asserts that death and decay are not natural, but consequences of the Fall—a problem only God can solve.

4. Hope as Unshakeable Certainty

• Biblical Hope Defined

  • Greek word for “hope” is a “guaranteed certainty,” not mere wishing. (11:43)
  • The Spirit is “a guarantee, a down payment” of our future resurrection.
  • “That’s not what the word means in the New Testament at all. It means a guaranteed certainty. Which is why Paul says... God has prepared us for this thing and he has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.” (12:05)

• Christ and the Outpouring of the Spirit

  • Cites John 7: living water as the image of hope fulfilled in Christ.
  • “Isn’t that what hopelessness is? It’s a thirst that can never be slaked, a hunger that can never be satiated... It’s so much better with Christ. The hope you have in him, no matter what happens here, will be unshakeable.” (13:52)

5. Eternal Hope: The New Creation

• Revelation 21:1-5 (15:06 – 22:45)

  • Vivid imagery: new heaven and new earth, God personally wiping away every tear, the end of death, mourning, and pain.
  • Contrasts Babel (human striving upward) with New Jerusalem (God’s gift descending).
  • Quote: “And just consider the imagery of God himself will wipe away their tears... That’s the imagery God chooses to speak to us in, of what he’ll do for all of his dear children. He Himself will undo all the sadness, the grief, the pain, the death, the destruction we have caused. In other words: resurrection.” (20:32)

• The Centerpiece: God with Us

  • Traces the biblical story: God’s promise to dwell among His people—from Exodus/Leviticus to John 1:14.
  • “The centerpiece... is the God who fulfills His covenant promise to dwell with His people. And what does that mean but the undoing of all that was part of this present evil age. Dying, sickness, mourning, grieving—all of it’s gone.” (18:53)

6. Application and Pastoral Challenge

• What Do We Hope In?

  • Urges listeners to examine what their actual hope is rooted in.
  • “Because where your hope is, is where you will find meaning, security, trust, identity. And if it’s anything other than Christ, your hope will be exposed as false and it will wreck you.” (23:28)
  • God removes false hopes to replace them with hope in Christ alone.

• The Sustaining Power of Resurrection Hope

  • Christ is described as “our manna in the wilderness... the better Adam... fulfillment of all our hopes and the end goal of all resurrection reality.” (23:55)
  • “Therefore we do not lose hope because we know in whom our hopes are vested. We say with Paul, I know whom I have believed and I am confident that He is able to keep that which I’ve entrusted to Him to that day.” (24:28)
  • “Look up, for our redemption draws nigh.” (24:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Child’s Profound Theology:
  “We’re all going to die. But that’s okay because Jesus moved the stone.” — Dr. Fluor’s daughter (00:05)
• Modern Hopelessness:
  “All the advertising, all the social media, it has a goal to make us discontent constantly... All of these things can combine to deaden our hope of heaven.” (05:30)
• On Cultural Cynicism:
  “The promise of secularism has failed... a chestless culture... Men without chests, no morals, no commitments, nothing but cynicism and despair.” (06:30)
• False Hopes Exposed:
  “If you’re looking where the Tower of Babel is being built, look no further than the modern technological industry.” (09:33)
• The Guarantee of the Spirit:
  “God has prepared us for this thing and He has given us the Spirit as a guarantee, a down payment.” (12:05)
• Hope in the New Jerusalem:
  “God Himself will wipe away their tears... He Himself will undo all the sadness, the grief, the pain, the death, the destruction we have caused.” (20:32)
• Pastoral Appeal:
  “If it’s anything other than Christ, your hope will be exposed as false and it will wreck you. And God will do that to us, if we’re His, so that He can give us true hope, that He can give us resurrection hope.” (23:32)
• Final Exhortation:
  “Look up, for our redemption draws nigh.” (24:40)

Important Timestamps

• 00:00 – Episode opens with a child’s statement about Jesus and resurrection.
• 02:16 – Introduction to the theme of hope and the rise of hopelessness.
• 03:24 – Reading Richard Dawkins on pitiless indifference.
• 06:25 – Analysis of cultural shift to cynicism and despair.
• 07:05 – Exposition of 2 Corinthians 5 and the longing for “clothing.”
• 09:33 – Critique of technological utopianism (Harari, transhumanism).
• 10:17 – Christ’s resurrection as the answer to death and shame.
• 12:05 – Definition and certainty of biblical hope.
• 13:52 – John 7, the promise of living water and true satisfaction.
• 15:06 – Revelation 21; promise of the New Jerusalem.
• 20:32 – God’s promise to wipe away every tear.
• 23:28 – Invitation to examine one’s true hope.
• 24:40 – Final exhortation: “Look up, for our redemption draws nigh.”

Summary & Flow

With warmth, clarity, and gravity, Dr. Gabe Fluor interweaves personal history, cultural analysis, and rich exegesis to show that true hope is not in technological advancement, material abundance, or naive optimism—but only in the certainty of Christ’s resurrection and the promise of a resurrected creation. Listeners are challenged to identify their real sources of hope and to embrace the guarantee of God’s Spirit, culminating in a moving vision of God’s personal care for his people and the undoing of every sorrow in the age to come. The message ultimately urges: Fix your hope in Christ—look up, redemption is near.