1 Peter 1:3-5: A Living Hope

In his book, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…and Maybe the World, Admiral William H. McRaven shares what he learned during Navy SEAL training in order to live a better life

“Hope is the most powerful force in the universe.”

“With hope,” McRaven writes,” you can inspire nations to greatness. With hope you can raise up the downtrodden. With hope you can ease the pain of unbearable loss. Sometimes all it takes is one person to make a difference.

“We will all find ourselves neck deep in mud someday. That is the time to sing loudly, to smile broadly, to lift up those around you and give them hope that tomorrow will be a better day.”

Indeed hope is dynamic. However, there is a hope more powerful than the kind expressed by the Admiral. It is a living hope. A hope that transcends this life. A hope that is anchored in Christ. A hope that no problem, plight, or persecution can dash. A hope that can even counter and conquer death. A heavenward hope.

In this potent text, consider and reflect upon these encouraging words by the apostle Peter.

“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, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Pet. 1:3-5).

Peter’s epistle was written to Christians who were scattered, not by choice, but due to persecution. Forced to leave their homes, they were facing a hostile world. They were called “strangers” living in a pagan culture that rejected Jesus, mocked Christianity, and tested their faith through fiery trials. The persecution precipitated by the Roman Emperor Nero was about to commence, or maybe had already begun.

Perspective is important when suffering and dealing with trials. Peter reminds them (and us) that this world is not our home. We are “resident aliens,” “pilgrims,” and “sojourners.” As Paul put it, we are citizens of a heavenly kingdom. So, our hope does not reside in a favorable culture or politically friendly government. Our hope is higher. Better. And greater.

Our hope is one of a brighter day. A better tomorrow. And a life that far surpasses the one we know. We look forward to an inheritance beyond this life. Incorruptible. Undefiled. Unfading. It is reserved and waiting for us in heaven.

What Peter is saying to them, he’s saying to us. If you’re facing trials that are testing your faith, know that it’s all worth it. Relative to eternity they only last a little while. And ultimately they will result in the salvation of your soul.

This hope is not wishful dreaming, or just positive attitude, or Pollyanna approach to life. It a hope that combines the elements of desire plus expectation. We yearn for something better, and knowing that God cannot lie, we expect it. A permanent inheritance. One that is incorruptible. Unfading. Undefiled. And unending.

This kind of heavenly hope makes suffering bearable. No, it makes it more than bearable, it makes it meaningful. Purposeful. And consequential. Because the resurrected Christ is our anchor, no storm can detract us from our mission or destroy our hope. In fact, we can even find inexpressible inner joy through the profession and practice of our faith. My favorite author, anonymous, was right. “Life without Christ is a hopeless end, but life with Christ is our endless hope.”

Our future hope does not reside in politics, elections, or the economy. Bill Gaither expressed it well in his song “Because He Lives.”

Because He lives I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives all fear is gone.
Because I know He holds the future.
And life is worth the living, just because He lives.

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman