Hope in an Age of Hopeless Media

by Justin Salinas, Thursday May 30, 2019

We live in an interesting time. Never has more information flowed so rapidly or been found so easily as in the present age. With social media, twenty-four-hour news cycles, talk radio, and super computers in the palms of our hands, we are constantly bombarded with facts and speculations, news from around the world, and personal opinions from every side. If you are like me, then you rarely find yourself coming out of these moments of media cheerful or encouraged. The reason for this is simple: we live in a fallen world, and it shows. The news is all about disasters, crimes, car wrecks, celebrity gossip, and political propaganda. Social media seems filled with only arguments and misguided opinions. The political commentators we all cannot get enough of, conservative or otherwise, bait us with drama and angry discontentment. Where is anyone to find hope or rest from the negative messages we hear every day?

Hope for the believer comes not from the world, but from the words of Scripture. If we have faith in Christ, we should not allow ourselves to adopt a mind of hopelessness and discouragement when the world looks and sounds like it will soon collapse in on itself. As believers have a greater hope than anyone else in this world. Listen to the Apostle Peter speaking to those fellow believers dispersed throughout ancient Rome in 1 Peter 1:3-9.

3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:3-9 NKJV

These believers were living in the midst of a culture with open and abhorrent idolatries, sexual perversions, drunkenness, and fleshly lusts. Sound familiar? Peter, knowing this, opens this epistle with encouragement for the brethren. He begins by blessing “the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ” and acknowledges the “abundant mercy” that has been given to these believers (v.3). Mercy has begotten these believers, and indeed us, as fellow exiles from Heaven, to a living hope in the resurrected Christ Jesus.

Peter could have stopped here. The news of the resurrected Lord conquering death after bearing the penalty of sin in our place should fill all our hearts with enough joy to cause them to burst out of our chests, but Peter goes on. He gives these believers something not only to rejoice in that is now complete and finished, but also something to look forward to in the future. It is the hope of an inheritance in our Heavenly Father. What is this inheritance? Peter describes it as that which is incorruptible and undefiled, that does not fade away. This inheritance, indeed our inheritance, is one of adoption into the kingdom of God. It is the ability for us to call God our Father. It is eternal and joyful existence with God as heirs and sons of God. We are placed as brothers and sisters with Jesus Himself and are able to take part in his royal inheritance in glory for all eternity. And all this is perfectly reserved for us by the power of God through faith! No man, not even the most powerful political leader can take it from us. It is safe from all financial crises. It will still stand even if natural disaster sweeps everything else away from us.

In this we rejoice, brothers and sisters. In this we find our hope because the world offers us none. As Peter continues, though we are grieved by various trials, though our faith be tested by fire in this life, we rejoice in that incorruptible and everlasting inheritance, and that which we receive at the end of our faith, the salvation of our souls.