First Peter and Missional Living 1.1

August 27, 2007

Getting a glimpse of the last page has a huge impact on how the story is read.

That was Peter’s hope as he wrote the words,

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. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice,

though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:3-9)

The Christians in Asia Minor that Peter was addressing lived as resident aliens. They were foreigners and probably had little rights under the Roman Empire. They were also a religious minority and probably under some type of persecution. So Peter reminds them about the last chapter. He asks them to remember the big picture. They serve a gracious God that has secured for them an inheritance that will never, perish, spoil or fade. It is a reminder that they will receive the greatest thing possible - the salvation of their souls.

However, as we will see, Peter does not want them to focus solely on heaven and forget about their life here on earth. He simply wants them not to be discouraged when they face difficulties in this life.

Many Christians today have a hope of heaven that allows them to disregard this life. But that is not biblical. That type of view says that life on earth means nothing and that we are just biding our time until life really begins in heaven.

Remember, eternity begins now. And life here makes a difference.

My question for you is how does having a glimpse of the final chapter change the way you are living today?

Posted in 1 Peter, Missional Living, Scripture