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. (1 Peter 1:3–5, ESV)

Thoughts

Peter began by declaring that God is the father of Jesus. Then Peter writes that out of the Father’s great mercy, he caused us to be born again. Think about that statement for a minute: Our merciful Father “caused us to be born again.” We sometimes think that we are born again as a result of other religious actions, but this Scripture is very clear. God the Father caused us to be “born again to a living hope.” Not a dead hope. Not a passing hope or an old hope, but a living hope. What is the source of this hope? It comes through Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. The Gospel of our living Savior causes us to be born again to a living hope.

The believer has “an inheritance that is imperishable.” Fruit is perishable … metal rusts … wood decays … hay burns. But our inheritance neither rusts, decays, burns, nor perishes. Our inheritance is unfading and stored in heaven for us. Think about the day you will receive your inheritance in heaven. Treasure the thought that God is guarding us, through faith, for a salvation that will be fully revealed in that day.

Application

Taking our cue from this passage, we want to have an eternal perspective about our relationships. Is this true of your relationships? Do you have a view of eternity for your life here on earth? What I mean is that during our life we continually experience the world’s fallenness—through others’ behaviors, our own choices, or simply through the brokenness of this world. Do you see only that fallenness around you, or have you been keeping eternal things in mind? Remember your inheritance in heaven. Remember that you will have endless days in Jesus’ presence, compared to a few years on earth separated from him.

Prayer

Lord, thank you for my rich inheritance. Thank you for guarding my salvation. I want to see all my relationships through this eternal perspective. I believe, Lord. Help my unbelief.… (Continue praying.)

P. Brian Noble