Where is Your Hope?

Read 1 Peter 3:8-16

Context: Peter has just finished giving advice to husbands and wives, and he is talking about how Christians should live.

Text:

8Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10For,

"Whoever would love life
and see good days must
keep his tongue from evil and his lips from
deceitful speech.

11He must turn from evil and do good;
he must seek peace and pursue it.
12For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and his ears are attentive to their prayer,
but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil."[a]

13Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? 14But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. "Do not fear what they fear[b]; do not be frightened."[c] 15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. (NIV)
Footnotes:
a. Peter 3:12 Psalm 34:12-16
b. Peter 3:14 Or not fear their threats
c. Peter 3:14 Isaiah 8:12

taken from www.biblegateway.com

Have you ever heard the Diana Ross song, Mahogany's Theme (for you younger folks, Mariah Carey did a remake...)? The chorus goes like this:

Do you know where you're going to?
Do you like the things that life is showing you?
Where are you going to?
Do you know?
Do you get what you're hoping for?
When you look behind you there's no open door
What are you hoping for?
Do you know?

What do you hope for? I imagine most of us are hoping for several things...health, financial stability, children who grow up to be good Christians, an enjoyable retirement. We hope that we make it through tough days, that the medical tests are negative, and that the car will make it to work in one piece.

It is almost assured that our hopes will not be fulfilled in all of these areas. As long as we hope for earthly things we will be disappointed. But if we can put our hope in God and in the reward of heaven, we know that hope will be satisfied.

Peter tells us to always be ready to give the reasons for our hope -- that includes our hope for an eternal future AND the explanation of why we can hold onto that hope while all of our earthly desires are crushed. How do you explain your reason for hope?