1Peter 1:9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
We have a living hope, an inheritance in heaven, the protection of God’s power, opportunities to prove our faith, and a love for God that is able to produce joy in all circumstances.
Do you set goals? Most of us look ahead and plan for the next steps in our life. From the moment a child is born, each new achievement is celebrated – the first smile, the first time rolling over and sitting up, the first steps, the first tooth, and the first words. Then learning and formal education is encouraged as each level in school is passed. We plan for the future, thinking ahead to careers, relationships, family, and retirement.
We even hedge our plans with insurance. However, no matter how comprehensive your insurance policies are, they cannot stop something from happening. Insurance only helps when things do occur. For instance, fire insurance will never produce the security that you will not have a fire, instead it will replace items lost to the fire. Health insurance will not prevent you from getting an illness, it will help pay the cost of your care. We could go on and on with this same scenario. The point is, our plans and all we do to protect those plans, have limits. This is all fine for our time on earth, but do we look ahead to eternity? Do you have true life insurance? Not the kind that provides a benefit to those you leave behind, but the insurance that promises your eternal dwelling in heaven.
What insurance do you have for your soul?
What is your eternal goal?
These questions are more important than anything else we can address in our lives. 1 Peter 1:9 speaks about the outcome of our faith. God gives us a defined result of faith, a conclusion of our trust and belief in Him when we die. Eternal life insurance is a one-time purchase only by the blood of Jesus. It is free to those who choose to receive it.
Consider this scenario. A poor man dies leaving nothing to his relatives. No insurance policies, no inheritance, nothing of physical value. As an observer at his memorial service, a friend notices the chatter is one of sadness and sorrow for this individual who had nothing and left nothing. In the muffled quietness, this friend clears his throat and announces that their acquaintance who has died, was not poor at all. Astonished, the crowd stops talking as silence and hope fills the room, and undivided attention is given to the speaker. He looks around the room making eye contact with those who are most distraught and announces that there is no reason to despair, their loved one had riches too numerous to count. At this point you can hear a pin drop. Now everyone’s eyes are on the speaker, their complete attention is given to him as they excitedly wait to hear what they might have inherited. The speaker shares the Gospel, unfolding the meaning of God’s grace to each individual and how, by accepting the gift of His Son, they too could receive riches beyond compare. The reaction is disappointment as one by one the crowd disperses with heads hung low. Their original thoughts fill their minds of how sad it was that someone they knew died so poor. Let me ask you, who is truly poor? The gentleman who died into the arms of Jesus, or the crowd who did not recognize the true riches that were freely offered?
1Peter 5:4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Hebrews 10:36 For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
Ro 6:22 But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.
What will be the result of your faith?
Are you more concerned about physical riches or spiritual riches – what gets the most investment? Do you give more attention to your personal portfolio or the perfecting of your faith?
As God’s child, there is great cause for rejoicing. Your soul, that part of you which will continue on through eternity, is secure. Salvation is the object and result of faith. 1 Peter 1:9 addresses the assurance a believer has for their eternal life with Christ.
“Receiving--in sure anticipation; "the end of your faith," that is, its crowning consummation, finally completed "salvation". Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary
“Receiving with unspeakable delight, as a full equivalent of all your trials, the great end of your faith, {even} the complete salvation of {your} souls; a prize of infinitely greater importance than all you can be called to sacrifice for its sake!” Philip Doddridge N.T.
In every challenge and difficult circumstance, we can either focus on what we believe should be different or what we think we have missed out on, or we can focus on what we know is promised for our future. The outcome of these choices is opposite to one another. The first will produce unrest and despair and tempt us to do things the way we want. The second will produce peace and hope and remind us to act in a manner that befits God’s children, always keeping our eyes on the prize.
We have become used to instant gratification. We want results now and waiting for them has become a lost practice. We need to look to the outcome of our faith, the salvation of our souls, this is our focus. We are working towards the final goal of our salvation, eternal life in heaven with Jesus. Until then we are to represent Christ well, as His children, even through difficulties.
Think upon the years you persevered in your education, sacrificing sleep in order to study. Your eyes were on that final diploma. Consider the years spent in a career. The benefits of longevity are realized at the end. Many of us can look at the energy, time and sacrifice it took to raise children. The hopeful reward is their maturing to adulthood and for some of us, grandchildren. How invested are you in your eternal future? Are you persevering to the end?
1Peter 1:15 but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all [your] behavior;
Because of God’s grace and continued work in our lives, we are able to combat our weakness toward sin and live pleasing to Him. May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure because your faith is based on the Cross of Christ.
