Don't Throw it Away

I started reading again through 1 Peter this morning. I usually try to finish it in one sitting. It’s only five very short chapters. Barely six pages in my Bible.

But this morning I couldn’t hardly get beyond the first chapter in the time I allotted myself. I stopped for a while at verses 3-6 of chapter one.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

Notice the verb tenses in that section. They’re important.

Verse 3: God’s great mercy ‘has caused us’ (past tense) to be born again to a living hope. That’s not a ‘maybe’ promise. It’s already been accomplished.

Now verse 4: We’ve been born again through His mercy to obtain in imperishable inheritance already reserved (past tense) in heaven for us. There’s another promise of a ‘done deal.’

And then verse 5: ‘We are protected’ (present tense) by God’s power through our faith in Him.

No wonder Peter continues in verse 6: “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials . . ."

Christian! You have great reason to rejoice in God’s many promises of your eternal destination. You and I can rest in the assurance that God has already ‘qualified’ us (past tense) to share in the heavenly inheritance. Why? Because “He rescued us (past tense) from the domain of darkness and transferred us (past tense) into the Kingdom of His beloved Son’ (see Colossians 1:12-14).

Child of God through faith in the atoning blood of Jesus! Keep walking with Him. Stay faithful and obedient to Him. “Do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised” (Hebrews 10:35-36).