“I'm sorry, ma'am, there was nothing we could do.” It was the evening of Christmas Day. Karl had gone to church alone that morning while his wife and his children's families slept late. The whole family was there for the holidays. They had eaten, talked, laughed, and played games together. Then after the evening good-byes, Karl sat down in his easy chair – and died.
At the funeral home his wife Cheryl wrestled with the urge to cry each time someone expressed his sympathies. Yet, she listened as people filed past and said things like: “If there's anything we can do.” “Oh, he looks so natural.” “We're going to miss him, too.” All were well-meaning expressions, but Cheryl's pain wasn't lessened until a neighbor from her husband's church quietly encouraged, “Remember, Cheryl, God not only gave us Christmas; He also gave us Easter.” What was that she said? “He also gave us Easter”?
Those words lingered long after the funeral. Finally, Cheryl went over to her neighbor's to visit. After some small talk, she asked, “What did you mean when you said, ‘He also gave us Easter'?” Her neighbor stared out the window, as if looking for some divine guidance. Then she told Cheryl about the Savior – how the Baby Jesus of Christmas was the same person who, on Good Friday, died on a cross near Jerusalem. That same Jesus rose from the dead on Easter, and promised eternal life and joy and peace in heaven to all who believe in Him, like Karl did.
Oh, Cheryl had heard it all before. But this time the words seemed different. God was using the calling home of her husband to call her home in a different way. He reclaimed Cheryl as part of His flock through the power of His Word. And now Cheryl has something she thought she would never see again – hope, a living hope. Because Karl's Savior lived – no, because their Savior lived - Karl hadn't really died, nor would she, nor do any who believe.
Dear friend, do you believe in a crucified Savior, now raised from the dead on Easter? “Then you've got it too,” Peter cries. Hope, a living hope in Christ! You've Got It. Live Happily in It ...
I. …even though the things of this life fade away.
Those who believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead have what they truly need and can be happy every day of their lives. They are different; they see hope in everything, even when the things of this life fade away and the world seems hopeless. For many others, lose a spouse, lose a job, lose good health, lose anything important and happiness and hope are gone. They might as well give up and pack it in.
For example, when we were all much younger, a famous rock and roll star died, died in the prime of his life. At the time I recall hearing quite a few fans say something like they no longer had any reason to live. I've also heard that a few times since as other famous stars have passed away.
What a sad commentary that is on the things which people consider of utmost importance in life and about those things which they feel they cannot do without. People, money, the things of this world pass away. When they are gone, those who cling to them are without happiness and hope for the sad truth is that idolaters lose everything when their idols perish – and idols will perish!
But that is not so for the one who clings in faith to Christ Jesus. He's no dead idol; He's the crucified and risen Lord of heaven and earth who took care of our sin and conquered death for us. Through Him we have become heirs of eternal things, things that Peter says “can never perish, spoil, or fade – kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power.”
God will never take His forgiveness in Christ away. God will never let the devil have control of you again. God will never let anything pluck you out of His hand. All of these heavenly things are promised to those who believe, and not one promise of the Lord ever fades away.
But health fades, careers fade, a lovely home, even a happy family might not remain. What do you do if your hopes are in such things and those things shatter? Are you then left desolate?
No, not if you believe in the Savior, for when earthly hopes perish and worldly inheritance fades, your greatest hope remains as sure and certain as the day God promised it – life eternal in His Son. Disappointments here are disarmed by the glorious appointment there, above. It's real; it's kept for you, Peter says, kept by a Savior who will also keep you for it.
Dear friend, in faith heaven is kept for you and you for heaven. Even though the things of this life fade away , hope remains – hope in a living Christ. You've Got It. So Live Happily in It.
II. Live Happily in It even though you suffer grief and are tested.
When things are going right, it's not too hard to be happy. But when things are not going right, our happiness is threatened, isn't it? Sometimes when that happens, a piece of advice that you might hear is to keep a stiff upper lip. In other words, just grit your teeth and make the best of it.
The believer has a different view of life's difficulties. First of all he knows their origin. All problems, all sufferings, all griefs, all misery, all frustrations have a common origin – sin. Sin has contaminated the whole human race with its consequences, and the believer suffers with it, too.
But there's more to it than that for the Christian has another view on the griefs that come his way. He knows that they are all under God's control and they are intended for his good as a test. Sure, sometimes that is very difficult for us to understand and accept. Yet, the Bible stresses it again and again. So it is that Peter wrote to his readers that the trials which they were encountering had come “so that your faith…refined like gold by fire, may be proved genuine and result in praise and glory and honor.” Even though you suffer grief and are tested, something good will come out of it – eternally good, and so you can live happily in it. How could that be? Well, think of it this way.
A test involves pressure, right? If you are testing an engine, a structural beam, or a person the method is the same. Pressure or stress of some type is applied. Without stress or pressure, the test wouldn't really be a test. For example, giving a first grade math test to a college senior wouldn't be a true test at all and certainly wouldn't be of benefit to the college student.
Furthermore, the purpose of a test is always the same, too. A test is meant to discover any weakness so that it can be corrected and the product improved. If the object passes the test, it has been proven to be genuine, the real deal. And it's fit for its purpose.
What grief are you suffering and being tested with? The loss of someone or something near and dear to you? Physical pain? Emotional weakness? Disappointment in a friend?
Is it difficult? Of course it is! Distressing? Yes! But thank God if and when it happens for it is your gracious God Himself, the One who is saving an eternal inheritance for you above, who tests your faith. He Himself is in the test; He applies the pressure to reveal and correct any weakness. And if He brings you through the fire of adversity, it is not to harm you, but to refine, to purify, to temper and to strengthen your faith like gold He will bring you through it, richer than you were before, and far better off.
Of this Martin Luther once said, “One Christian who has been tried is worth a hundred who have not been tried, for the blessing of God grows in trials….When faith is thus tried, all that is dross and false must pass off and drop away. Then will result a glorious reward, praise and commendation when Christ will be revealed.”
III. …Even though you haven't seen Him.
When Christ will be revealed - sometimes I wish He would reveal Himself now, so that we could see Him. If I could only see Him, then I think it would make this hope of which Peter writes more certain.
Perhaps we sometimes envy those women, those disciples, even Thomas the doubter, who were privileged to see the risen Lord with their own eyes. How much stronger we would be if we could have the same opportunity!
But that's not really necessary, is it? to see Him? The marvelous thing about faith is that it clings to the unseen. The risen Lord Jesus allowed His disciples to see Him because they were to be the eyewitnesses who would pass on what they saw to others. In that way as eyewitnesses of the truth, it had to be given to them through sight. But not all of us need to see Him.
Remember what He said to Thomas in the Gospel Lesson today: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” I'm sure Peter had those words in mind when he wrote, “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him; and even though you do not see Him now, you believe in Him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
Notice he says, “You who believe are receiving.” It's already yours, now, not only later, but now. All the blessings of faith in a risen Savior are yours in the present. Even eternity is yours; you're already living in it. Oh, you don't enjoy its perfect fulfillment in heaven quite yet, but right now, this very moment, the Lord is with you and you are with him, even though you don't see Him . He will never go away. And where He is, there is His heavenly kingdom.
Hope? You've Got It. Happily Live in It. You can because God also gave us Easter. God grant it to us in faith for Jesus' sake.