What hope do you have in this world or the next? You have cancer, your marriage is broken, your kids break your heart. You have more month than money and not enough money to buy eggs. Taxes go up and your boss is out to get you. Where can you turn? Is there any joy in suffering? Peter wrote to the Christians who were scattered and under persecution. They were exiles in a foreign land. Life was hard; what “good news” would help them and encourage them to carry on? He said, “May grace and peace be multiplied to you” – wouldn’t you like a lot more grace and peace in your life today? That comes from living hope you have for tomorrow.
He continued (1 Peter 1:3-5), “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.” First, He reminded them who God was: the God of blessing, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the God of great mercy and the God who makes people born again. He gives living hope to those who are grieving and suffering. He resurrected His Son, our Lord Jesus, from the dead and gives you a permanent inheritance. He is guarding His people through faith until that day to come. That’s some God! Do you need to know and remember this God in your trials and troubles?
Then he talked about being “born again.” What does this mean? It’s the same thing Jesus said to Nicodemus in John 3:3, “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.” It’s to be born of seed that won’t die, to be immortal, to live forever. You’re going to live forever somewhere – where? To be born again is to be forgiven of your sin and have new life in Christ, to live with Him in eternity. And God has caused you to be born again to a living hope through Jesus’ death and resurrection. This is the last thing Peter mentioned, and it is encouraging good news. This is what gets you through the suffering and hardships of this life: the hope of something better to come. Maybe today you’re spending your grand-kids’ inheritance, but the inheritance God has for you will never crumble or decrease. You’re guaranteed to get it and it’s guaranteed to be there. I don’t know if Social Security will last, but my inheritance from Christ is coming. Is yours? That’s worthy to look forward to. Do you have this living hope? Are you born again?
We believers and followers of Christ have living hope that endures. Do not despair when life is hard today. You are born again, forgiven of your sins, and will be resurrected with Him on that day of salvation to come. Hope in God through hardships today. You have a living hope and a guarantee that something better is coming.