Hope

1 Peter 1:3 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, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith--the salvation of your souls. 10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, 11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. 12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven--things which angels desire to look into. 13 Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

People find hope in a lot of different things these days, and I suppose they always have – but what is true? Isn’t it true that a hope based upon what is false is worse than no hope at all? Isn’t it true that hopelessness until a hope in the truth is found is better than a hope based upon what is false – even if it produces a hopelessness in the short-term that brings (perhaps) even much pain or suffering?

Peter focuses on ‘where our hope comes from.’ True hope. He leaves out the false, and exposes it by explaining what is true. He knows.

A false hope may in fact promise better short-term results – but to what purpose? Is it so that you may “feel better” sooner rather than later? The answer, plain and simple is: yes, that is the reason – I want to feel better now. (Or as soon to now as I can possibly arrange.) And so ‘hope-hucksters’ are a dime-a-dozen. They are all around us. What can make you feel better now? How much would you pay? What would you do?

“Make no mistake,” Peter says, “true hope comes only in the holiness of Christ, even when suffering may be the pathway to holiness.” It may be totally contrary to human nature to expect hope to be born of suffering, but we have been born again into a new nature. Peter teaches us to trust the leading of the new nature and not the old.

-Pastor Bill