1 Peter 1: 3 – 5
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.”
Nobody could understand it! These people should have left town immediately. Certainly, their neighbors did everything they could to drive them away. The couple lived in a small village in what is now Democratic Republic of Congo, and they were the only Christians in the place. John and his wife had moved in at the bidding of the Holy Spirit, but they had had nothing but problems ever since they had arrived. As soon as the neighbors learned that John and Victoria were Christians, they began harassing them. The neighbors stole their goats and chickens and allowed their cows and pigs to enter their garden, despite a carefully woven fence. When nothing else would drive this couple away, the neighbors set fire to their house while they were at the farm, killing their small son who was asleep inside the house. Despite all of these persecutions, John and Victoria continued to be kind and to worship Jesus, singing and praying frequently throughout the day and night.
Then came the flood. While most people in town were afraid of deep water and could not swim, John was an expert swimmer who had grown up beside a large river. James and his family had led the persecution against John and Victoria when many others would have stopped. Now James stood helpless on one side of a swollen stream while his wife and children were stranded on a small island calling for help. “Tie a rope around my waist and anchor it to that big tree,” John ordered James. Wearing the safety rope, John managed to ford the stream and bring everyone to safety.
“Why have you helped us?” James begged with tears streaming down his face. “We have done nothing but hurt you ever since you came. We have managed to destroy everything you owned, including your only son.”
“It’s simple,” John replied. “Our hope is not in this world; our hope is in the Lord Jesus Christ, and it is Him whom we worship and follow. We have a living Hope. You continue to serve idols that can do nothing.”
“I want what you have,” responded James. “How can I have that kind of hope?” And that day, James and his family began to follow Jesus.
Today, many people around the world are without hope. One year ago, they had flourishing businesses; today the COVID – 19 pandemic has destroyed those businesses. Others have been caught up in the maelstrom of social change, unwilling participants in demonstrations by outsiders who have demolished their neighborhoods. Still others have conquered COVID, only to realize that rehabilitation may take months or years. What hope do these people have?
The Apostle Peter was no stranger to suffering. By the time Peter was writing this epistle, he had been in prison and had likely been beaten and had been forced to move from place to place. Eventually, Peter would be crucified for his faith. What is Peter telling us?
“By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…” When we accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of our lives, we are born again spiritually and now have real hope. Many hope in possessions or fame or businesses or political connections, but all of those can fall apart in an instant.
”…and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” At one time, inheriting houses or lands could be a great blessing. Now inheritance taxes can eat up so much money that the inheritance becomes a burden. But God gives us an eternal inheritance that will never pass away.
We always have a choice: will we serve the one true living God, or will we serve something or someone else and less? Only God the Father can give us true hope and a living inheritance as we trust in what Jesus Christ has done for us. Today we must choose carefully, for we are choosing for eternity.
PRAYER: Father God, thank you for your precious promises. Lord, help us to truly believe in you and in your Son Jesus Christ. Thank you that when we do believe, you guarantee us that we will have a heavenly inheritance that can never be taken away from us. Thank you for giving us hope. In the mighty Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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