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The Bible says the one whose hope is in the Lord is happy (Psalm 146:5). As Christians we have a living
hope!
Wouldn't it be terrible to have to live without hope? Happiness and hope are companions, and many are
unhappy because they are unhopeful.
In 63 AD the apostle Peter addresses a letter to Christians who were scattered and persecuted, enduring
great suffering. They needed hope, and Peter reminded them of their hope with these words:
"Blessed by 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, To an inheritance incorruptible, and
undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you " ( 1 Peter 1 :3-4).
Notice what these verses teach:
1. We have a real hope. We have a "lively" or "living" hope. We serve a living God (Matthew
16: 16) and rely on a living Savior (John 6:51) who causes us to be begotten (born) again to be God's children.
2. We have an incorruptible inheritance. The great gift of eternal life is a reward (Matthew
5:12), a treasure (Matthew 6:19- 20), a prize (Philippians 3:14), a crown (2 Timothy 4:7-18), and in our verses, an incorruptible
inheritance. "Incorruptible" means "immortal, imperishable,
enduring, undying." Our inheritance is not affected by the ticking of the clock or passing of the ages.
3. We have an undefiled inheritance. The word '"undefiled" means "unstained, unsoiled,
pure, chaste." Our inheritance is not subject to contamination. Nothing defiling enters into the eternal realm of God {Revelation
21 :27). Often people get concerned about "clean-ups" -clean up the environment or clean up TV -and there is much in our world
needing cleansing! But we as Christians are going to a place that's already clean!
4. We have an unfading inheritance. Time has a way of fading things -letters, pictures,
even memories. But ours is an inheritance that doesn't fade. We are on our way to a place whose beauty is never tarnished
and never disappears.
5. We have a reserved inheritance. "Reserved" means "guarded, kept, held, preserved."
God is the One who holds our inheritance, our reservation, in heaven. We never have to concern ourselves with the possibility
of the eternal inheritance of God's faithful children somehow disappearing. No, our hope of heaven is based upon God's promises,
and the inheritance God offers is as enduring as God Himself.
- John M. Brown
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