Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade. [1 Peter 1:3-4a]That "inheritance" is our complete salvation. Not simply of our own souls, but of our bodies as well (for we are all embodied souls), and not simply souls and bodies, but all creation. This hope, which we consider certain. It is God's plan to have his creation back, unmarred by sin and rebellion, a perfect reflection of himself, with us his children in the midst of it, and King Jesus reigning over all.
The question then is, how shall we who believe these things therefore live? How shall we conduct ourselves? How shall we face trials, the disappointments of this life and even the terrors, in light of this supreme hope?
The answers are throughout the New Testament, but I want to focus on what Peter would go on to say, just after the verses quoted above. Peter will go on to say that Christians are guarded or shielded by God's power. This is to assure us that we shall come through whatever we're facing, and that even though we shall for a time grieve (for this world remains a grievous place), there is also, simultaneously, cause for rejoicing. We are never helpless, never on our own, never really lost, rejected, or beyond the reach of God's protecting hand. He is with us.
In this knowledge we walk on. At verse 13 Peter says this:
Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.We are children of God. Jesus, who is called the first fruits of the new creation, is coming to reign. He will vanquish even the last enemy, death. To some it's sheer madness, but to us it's a certain hope.
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