“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In 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 can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3-4).
Times of pressure produce questions. We all like to see where we are going when things are not clear and Peter gives us a glimpse. When the apostle Peter wrote these words Nero had just become emperor of the Roman Empire. He would commit suicide in three years (AD 68). One year later, In AD 69, there were four emperors in one year. That was also the year when Jerusalem was attacked. The 60’s were turbulent years after a long time of political peace.
This letter was written to the Church during a time of political chaos. No matter what the situation may be around us believers have supernatural security. That security is so certain that Peter called it a “living hope.” In the Bible hope is an expectation of something good. It is the opposite of anxiety and fear. It is not empty, false or deceptive. It is not the worldly, “I hope things will work out” with no real basis for expecting good to happen. When we place our faith in Jesus we experience the power of His resurrection, receive the gift of new birth and can face the future with unflagging hope.
Our future is so secure that Peter said it is “an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you.” That is as good as a promise can possibly be. God has given us inexhaustible resources that do not wear out. Our tomorrows are out of reach of the temporary circumstances we face. We can build our lives on that kind of hope.
