1 Peter 1:3-9(KJV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.
Hope can be defined as the desire for something good and the expectation of receiving it. Jesus Christ is the only genuine source of hope, because He alone knows what is best and also has the sovereignty and power to secure its fulfillment. In contrast, other hopes are grounded on the shifting sands of circumstances beyond our control.
We all have expectations for the future, but these often pertain only to earthly life. Christ promises us the “living hope” of an imperishable inheritance in heaven. Everyday desires will fade away, but our eternal heavenly home is our ultimate security and anchor when life’s storms are severe.
However, heaven can seem far away when pain is present and there’s no relief in sight. So how do we endure trials right now? One way is through hope, which anticipates a change of circumstances for the better.
But what about when our situation isn’t improving—then, what’s the Lord doing that’s “better”? Peter tells us He is refining our faith, which will result in praise and glory when Jesus returns. This proves more valuable than gold or even relief from our distress. What a paradox! The difficulties that cause us to lose hope are the very tools God uses to increase our faith and hope in Him.
Christ promises us hope not only for eternity but also for this life. Those times that God does not deliver us from difficulty, we can be sure He is doing a greater work within us. When we finally reach our eternal home, we’ll recognize the immeasurable value of the faith He produced in us as we kept our hope in Him.
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