Jump Start # 3938
1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.”
In our verse today, Peter writes of a ‘living hope.” His words were written to a people who no longer fit in. Not only, did they not fit in, but they were suffering because of that. Fifteen times Peter would refer to the suffering that those long ago Christians faced and endured. What would keep them going is a hope that would not end. And, that is a key to our journey with the Lord. We must have a hope that endures. It is a hope that never runs out.
When our hope runs out, so do our dreams and our heart. We give up because there is no longer any hope. We quit because there is no hope. Without hope the failing student becomes discouraged and drops out of school. Without hope, the team loses before the game is over. Without hope, the addict no longer tries. Without hope, the patient surrenders to death. When hope is gone, the journey ends.
The hope here is more than a fanciful dream. It’s not merely a wish. “I hope someone leaves me a lot of money,” someone says. That’s nothing more than four leaf clovers, crossing your fingers and wishing upon a star. There is nothing to it. There is no reason to hope. It is just as likely not to happen as it is to happen.
The hope Peter speaks of is living because it is founded upon the Living Christ. It is wrapped tightly around the promises of a faithful and living God. It is true because God is true. It is sure because God is sure. God keeps His promises. Peter’s hope is not a long life. It is not you’ll get through this suffering without any problems. This living hope is not based upon here. It is eternal as the Lord is. It is about eternity. This hope is spiritual. It’s not about money, travel, or fun.
There are three views of this hope:
First, the view backward. Our verse says, God caused us to be born again (v. 3). That’s past tense. That’s what already has happened. It’s because of that past that we now have hope. Without that past, there would be no hope. Salvation in Jesus Christ has brought forgiveness and the freedom from doom and guilt. We have hope because of the blood of Jesus. We have hope because we have forgiveness. The verse before speaks of obeying Jesus and being sprinkled with His blood (v. 2).
Because of faith, there is hope. Everyone wants to go to Heaven, but for most it’s just a pipe dream. There’s nothing to base that hope on. They’ve lived a life of selfish indulgence. They have done whatever they felt like. Their past is not forgiven and their sins have not been blotted out. Where is there hope?
Second, the view forward. The next verse says “To obtain an inheritance reserved in Heaven for you” (v. 4). This is yet to come. It is reserved, like a reservation in a restaurant or a rental car. It’s waiting for us. This is future. It is a bright future based upon what has happened in the past. Because of the salvation in Jesus Christ, we have this hope. Things will only get better. The best is yet to come.
What comforting words to a people who were suffering because of their faith. How many questions must have raced through their minds. If we are doing what is right, why are people against us? Why are people trying to hurt us? Maybe if we stopped doing what we are doing, then they would stop what they are doing. Peter’s words answers those questions. There is something coming. It’s what our hope leads to. There awaits Heaven. Our Lord suffered. The heroes of Hebrews 11 suffered. Don’t let your hope run out.
Third, the view present. The texts continues, “Who are protected by the power of God through faith” (v. 5). God protects us. This is happening now. We sing, “Faith is the victory that overcomes the world.” The Philippians were told, “the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (4:7). Hope is what keeps us going. Hope led Paul to sing in prison after being beaten. Hope led Paul to rise up after being stoned and returned right back to the city where they dragged him out of. Hope led Peter to declare, “We cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20).
Hope in life. Hope in death. Hope in today. Hope in tomorrow.
There is a special kind of fish in South America that has four sets of lenses. As the fish swims towards the surface of the water, he can see what is above, while with the other set of lenses, see what’s below. And, in many ways, that’s how we journey through this world. Some only see today. Some only see this life. Some only see what’s wrong. Some only see the physical. The disciple of Jesus sees those things as well, but he also has his eyes set on things above. And, it’s that view towards Heaven that keeps his hope going. Our hope is not in the White House, the court house or even the church house. Our hope is in Heaven. Fixing our eyes on Jesus, what a wonderful way to look at things.
A living hope—a hope that will not run out. A hope that endures to the end.
Roger