When Life Is Uphill - Pt 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, 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. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. (1 Peter 1:3-9 ESV).

 

Mother Teresa was a faithful mission worker in Calcutta, India, and she described her work of mercy with the poorest of the poor in these words: "We want to create hope for the person… we must give hope, always hope." She was determined to pass along something of the living hope she had through her Lord Jesus Christ. When we are struggling uphill in our lives, hope is essential. And this is not the kind of “maybe-so” kind of hope so many have experienced; it is the kind of “know-so” hope that we receive from our experience with Jesus.

 

Two thousand years earlier the Apostle Peter wrote a similar declaration in a letter that is now part of the Bible. Our reading today comes from the first part of that letter. He wanted to share with other believers that we have "new birth into a living hope" through Jesus' resurrection. He wrote to people who were scattered throughout the Roman Empire. Because of persecution for their faith in Christ, many had left their homes and lost their possessions. It was certainly an uphill journey!

 

Peter reminded his readers that despite hardships and challenges, they had a living hope because of Jesus Christ. They had received a new identity through their new birth into Christ's family. Those believers who had given up everything for Jesus had an inheritance that, unlike the things they had owned before, could "never perish, spoil or fade." If you find yourself somewhere in life without much hope, be assured that because of Jesus Christ you too can have living hope. This is your “know-so” hope that will carry you to a mountain-top view!