Born Again to a Living Hope

12.16.14

1 Peter 1.3-5 3 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, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. – St. Peter to the Dispersed (ESV)

This morning, perhaps, it was a lack of sleep, too much sleep, or maybe just some unrest of the soul – y’ever get that? Seems to be the story of my life these days. It’s not unhappiness – I have much to be happy about and much to be thankful for (yes, I know, that was the last holiday…). But around 4am each day what I’ve been trying to hold back all night seems to come crashing in –thoughts and the concerns for the day. Jesus said, the concerns of today are enough: don’t let the concerns of tomorrow in as well.

This morning, perhaps, it was a good thing to read 1 Peter and to see that he celebrated the new birth. Peter mentions it twice in the opening portions of his letter. Peter was writing to a persecuted people who’d been chased from the homes and heritage because of their beliefs. It seems like that is the preferred method in this world of dealing with those who don’t believe correctly – they need to be chased off…or killed off…

It’s one thing to be chased off, but it’s another to have to relocate to somewhere where you don’t know anyone, don’t speak the language, don’t understand the customs, and you live as an oddity to those among whom you’ve moved; and they ain’t too keen on your being there. So Peter reminded them: it’s not what you don’t have – but what you do: [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. You have new birth.

In today’s unsettledness there may be much that you and I may not have. But what we do have more than makes up for what we don’t: we’ve been born again. God caused that. God allowed that, and God has been in the Born-Again business since before the world was formed – it has always been His plan.

As we celebrate this Christmas season with all it offers (including stand-offs in cafes Australia, and the slaughter of school-kids in Pakistan) let’s remember what Peter told us: [You have] 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. That’s good stuff!

Father, as I embark on this day I’m reminded that what I have is a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Thank You for filling my heart and mind with this precious truth today to remind me that though there is much in this world that is good, there is also much that is not so good. And I’m to focus on the best: that which is kept in heaven for me, who by Your great power is guarded through faith for salvation that will be revealed in the last time. Thank You God! Amen.