Bible Bridges: Part 11

As we in the Midwestern part of the United States have endured a relentless winter, it brings to mind how glorious spring can be when it finally arrives. I have never hated winter per se—even as a transplanted Floridian. Yet this winter has even myself longing for green grass and budding trees. I can almost smell it!

It is a fascinating thing to see the cold of winter slowly retreat to the mild, southerly winds that try to eject the so-called polar vortex. With a foot of snow on the ground, often unpleasant weather in the form of drizzle and fog result. It can get so foggy that one cannot make out the car ahead of them. Yet we endure it all the same. I hear few people clamoring for more snow and below zero cold. Endurance is possible as we know that spring is coming. We can feel it in the sunshine, even on a cold day.

Such is the picture that St. Peter paints for us in his first epistle. It is striking that chapter one unfolds in light of suffering and trials, even as the vision of the heavenly reward, being secured in Christ Jesus, (1 Peter 1:3-4) spurs on those who have been "born again to a living hope". It is important to think on these words here. Notice verse 4: "an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you..." (ESV). What kind of image do you suppose Peter wishes to place in your mind? Think about these three adjectives in the reverse: what perishes? what is defiled? what is fading away? Not our inheritance! That's what the text clearly says. No, but rather it is the fog of war that will vanish at the "revelation of Jesus Christ" (1:7). The fog constitutes the "various trials" (1:6) through which we are called to journey by faith. 

The glorious destination to which we patiently take each laborious step is the vision to which we are invited to ever retain in our thoughts. This is the central Christian hope, which I believe is increasingly ignored in our age. Today we are more interested in creating heaven on earth. No pain. No suffering. Instead, we want our best life now and heaven as well! My friends, it simply does not work that way. To say otherwise is to call Peter a liar (and let's not leave out St. Paul—see 2 Corinthians 13).

There is a very important reason for this: God's destination for us is a refined faith: "...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" 1 Peter 1:7 (ESV). Even as we walk by faith and see the journey taking us to our final home in heaven, God's purpose for us to endure suffering is to have us mirror the suffering now / glory later path that Christ took.

Keep reading the first chapter and consider if your theology can answer why things are so hard now. What is to be your response? How would you summarize 1 Peter chapter one in a few sentences? Specifically, what key phrases and concepts seem to form Peter's primary thesis? He indeed has a message for us today. Take the time to ponder it, and then ask if you are walking in the eternal hope with an enduring faith. If you're faith is wavering, don't panic—I'd love to talk to you about that! 

Until next time...God's blessings!
Jared