We seem to live in an era where this gift of physical life that God has granted is less valued than intended by Him.  As Christ-followers, we know that God has a purpose for us being here and we also know that we have something much greater than this life waiting for us afterwards.

1 Peter 1 (ESV) 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. 

Peter mentions two significant aspects of God’s great mercy.  The first, which is fundamental to our faith, is a living hope.  If there was no hope of eternity in the presence of God, the meaning of this life on earth is destroyed. So Peter begins there, at the most fundamental point of earthly existence.  Jesus Christ is just as able to meet our need for help in the hour of death or the pressures of life today as he was then.

He also says that we not only have a living hope, but secondly, we have an inheritance that is safely guarded by His power.

This is a power that sustains us in the long term. It calms us and gives us peace when we are faced with terror, anxiety, or need and strengthens us.  It provides a peace that passes understanding.  Non-believers don’t have this peace and therefore don’t understand our faith.

If you read Peter 1:10-12, you will see that Peter says that all this has been predicted by the Old Testament prophets.  It is the prophesied truth and it was confirmed exactly as it was prophesied. 

This living hope is not something we should take for granted.  But if we aren’t intentional about looking into God’s grace and mercy, we likely will do exactly that.  Live life accordingly!