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Unshakable hope when the world around us is shaking (Part 2)
Key scripture for series: 1 Pet 1:1-12
[1] Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, [2] elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied. [3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, [5] who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. [6] In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, [7] that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, [8] whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, [9] receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls. [10] Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, [11] searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. [12] To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
Many, if not most, Christians that are living today, live with as well as have a misconception that by having faith in God should somehow exempt them and make them immune from experiencing trials of any sort. However, there is no such immunity with the exception of the consequences of sin on the basis that Jesus is Lord of my life, and by faith I accept the finished work of Calvary on my behalf. When a person reads the New Testament, which is all about grace and Jesus coming to earth to restore what was lost in Eden, they need to understand that the writers also underwent great trials and troubles, which they had no control over. They were also tempted to give up the struggle and call it quits. It’s easy to rejoice when things are going well, but it is completely the opposite when they are nog, so much so that we say
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to God that we are ready to quit, on not just our own ambitions, but in extreme cases our God given dreams and purposes as well. There are even some people that ask the question of why God allows these trials into our lives. Part of the reason is because we no longer belong to the world, and as a result of this we should experience trials as well as trouble. Jesus in the gospel of John tells us what we can expect, especially as we grow in our relationship with Him, and the day comes nearer when He will come to fetch us to take us home. We began our study in 1 Peter last week by having a look at why, as Christians, we can experience joy in the midst of suffering. We are continuing with that line of though this evening by looking at the last four reasons, and how important it is to have a hope that is unshakable especially when the world around us is being shaken. Our faith in Jesus Christ needs to be stringer than ever before, as many nations around the world are becoming hostile to the gospel of Jesus Christ, while at the same time persecuting people for their faith. In South Africa we can still exercise the right to freedom of religion although we don’t know for how much longer this will be allowed.
I am connecting these last four reasons as to why we can rejoice in the midst of trials to our identity in Jesus Christ, because the minute you receive Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour, you receive a new identity as a citizen of heaven but also the identity of being an ambassador of the Kingdom of heaven.
4. Jesus is risen from the dead.
NKJV I Peter 1:3
[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
God, in His justice, could have condemned every single one of us to hell. God, in His mercy, however, put the punishment of our sins on His Son Jesus Christ, so that we don’t need to fear death. God’s mercy is defined as giving us something that we don’t deserve. The idea carried behind this is that God did something for us that none of us deserve or could ever earn in that He sent Jesus to die for us.
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5. Our inheritance is secured in Christ.
I Peter 1:4
[4] to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
Many of us may not be rich right now in the physical sense of the word. But here’s the good news. God has an inheritance laid up for us in Christ that nobody else can touch. The inheritance cannot be tarnished by the things of the world, which are small and finite when compared to eternity.
Peter comforts these believers by reminding them of what lies ahead for them beyond the suffering that they are currently experiencing. Another example of somebody who knew a lot about suffering is Paul, so he could write about his experience. The closer we get to the second coming of Jesus, the more intense the suffering will become.
NKJV 8:18 Romans
[18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
NKJV II Corinthians 4:8-9, 16-18
[8] We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; [9] persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—
[16] Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. [17] For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, [18] while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
You must never, when going through trials, focus on them because they are temporal. The end goal is to keep your focus on eternity.
6. You are kept secure by God’s power.
I Peter 1:4-5
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[4] to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, [5] who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
7. Your faith is being strengthened.
I Peter 1:6-7
[6] In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, [7] that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
Everything needs to be focused on the only glory that will truly satisfy our hearts in the time that we have on earth making it count for eternity, which should be the glory of the risen King, because nothing else matters. Trials and sufferings may last for a while but they are nothing in comparison to the glory that will be revealed in us, on the basis that we remain faithful in serving Him, no matter what severity of trial we face, because Jesus has overcome and is preparing a place for us in heaven where we will spend eternity with Him.
