“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:13)
If you ever played golf with me, you might think I was confused about the point of the game. “Does Chris think that the player with the most points wins? Because he sure doesn’t seem to be hitting towards the hole!” Turns out I’m just bad at golf, but many of us live as if we don’t understand the point of life.
We might say we believe we’ll spend forever in heaven as God’s child in perfect peace, contentment, and happiness. But then we live on earth as if we’re trying to build heaven here. We chase money, sex, sports, pleasure, music, relationships, power – even religion – with a desperation that suggests we think we might find the right scenario to make this life fully satisfying.
If heaven is real, that’s the wrong game. The angels must watch us and think, “Do they just not get it? Why do they keep running in the wrong direction?” In today’s verse, Peter explains how to live as if heaven actually exists: Put all your hope in that life. Until then, accept that this life will always be difficult and chase God with everything you’ve got. It’s the only game plan that makes sense.
Think: Are you running from God in any area of your life in the hope that you’ll find heavenly happiness before you get there?
Pray: Ask God to help you put all of your hope on the forever grace that will come with seeing Jesus.
Do: Read 1 Peter 1:13-25.