In a disposable world it can seem like there is an absence of hope, of things built to last. But Diane shares the one thing we can have faith in that will not fail.
“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.” (1 Peter 1:3-4)
Have you noticed that things just do not seem to last as long as they used to? Perhaps it is just me but I definitely recall items lasting much longer when I was a child. I know that the washing machine my parents had lasted a good twenty years; the parts were made of metal and your dad could actually could take them apart and fix them if he was mechanically inclined.
Today nothing is made to last! Most appliances are made with plastic parts and if you try to disassemble the machine or replace parts yourself your warranty is no longer valid. I’m blessed to have a husband who is a mechanic by trade, who will do everything he can to fix whatever is broken himself, but even he has had to give in to the manufacturers of certain machines because of the type of materials they now use to build them.
So what I find encouraging is that although we live in this world–which is more and more determined to make everything disposable, replaceable, of no real value to anyone or anything–we have an all knowing Father who offers us an unconditional guarantee, of an “inheritance of hope” that will lasts an eternity!
God tells us that this gift, this precious new birth, is waiting just for us through the resurrection of His son Jesus Christ. This inheritance is not made of plastic materials that will deteriorate and fail. It is not merely paper money and is much more precious than gold (v. 7), and His promise to us is that it will be forever!
Now I know you may hear that kind of offer on those TV ads at times, but if you read the fine print I’m sure you would find a loop-hole in there for the manufacturer to cover themselves. God doesn’t have loop-holes in His word or fine print. He has only love, compassion, forgiveness, and promises that are given in truth.
Each of us have to deal with our own daily struggles. It may be illness and pain, depression, financial struggles, perhaps it is caring for a loved one; How comforting it is to know that with Jesus we have something to hold onto, a truthful guarantee, the hope we have in Him and the inheritance of a life spent walking in His presence. And that life of living water will never perish, spoil, or fade!
Prayer: Father, Thank You for the promise of an “inheritance of hope” that we can know beyond all doubt that You are there waiting for us, that You do not think of us as disposable, that we are more precious to You than anything else than we could imagine. Let us always look to You first in our daily struggles, knowing that You give us a guarantee to always be there right beside us. Amen.
About the author:
Diane Kalata lives in Florida. She has three grown children, and a wonderful husband who offers much support. She enjoys leading a women’s bible study group as well as a chronic pain and illness support group. She enjoys art and writing as well. She is a colon cancer survivor, but deals with chronic digestive illness and pain. But her greatest joy is encouraging and sharing with others all that God has done in her life and continues to do.
How does it make you feel to know that knowing God gives you that inheritance of hope? What does hope look like in your life?
This is a beautiful song, acoustic style, called “Back Home” with JJ Heller. She sings of how we can always come back home, no matter where we’ve gone. Where is home? At Jesus’ feet. -Lisa
photo credit: Nina Matthews Photography via photopin cc
Chronic Illness Pain Daily Devotionals 