DEVOTION – DAY 213

1 Peter 1:3-4 “Our Living Hope”

1 Peter 1:3-4 “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.”

These verses take on a more powerful meaning when we have to attend funerals of people we knew and loved. Everyone dies at some point in time. Some die young. Some die in their middle age. Some die in their old age. But sooner or later, everyone dies. So, it is important to know what happens when we die, what happens to us. Where does our spirit go?

We find that answer in 1 Peter 1:3-4. God, the Father in His mercy and love sent His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ to die on the cross, so that everyone who believes in Him, as their Lord and Savior, will not perish, but receive eternal life. This means that every Christian who believes that Jesus Christ died on the cross for their sins and that God raised Him on the third day, will never be separated from God. When a Christian die, his or her spirit will go to heaven to be with God forever. This is the “inheritance” referred to in 1 Peter 1:4 above. It is an inheritance that will never perish, spoil or fade because it is given forever by God. This promise of God is so comforting and reassuring for every Christian.

Recently, I had to attend two funerals. One was for a non-Christian and one was for a Christian. With the non-Christian, I was unable to offer much comfort to the family members because there is no hope for the person who died. She had chosen not to put her faith and trust in Jesus as her Lord and Savior, so her spirit will be forever separated from God. There is no place for her in heaven. But for the family members of the Christian who died, there was hope, there was peace and comfort because we all knew we will be reunited with the deceased when we die and go to heaven. That is our shared inheritance. That is God’s promise given freely to everyone who will believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior. And God always keeps His promises.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank you for your abundant promises that includes the promise of eternal life when we call upon Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Please help us to share this truth to all our non-Christian family members and friends so that they too can have the same promises given by you, that we have. We ask this of you in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

Questions

  1. Do you fear the thought of death? If so, why? If not, why not? Discuss.
  2. What does eternal life mean to you? Discuss.
  3. Why is it so important for everyone to hear the gospel message?
  4. Can you practice with someone to share the gospel message so that you can be always prepared to share the gospel message when the need arises?