What South Africa has been through with the recent looting in Kwazulu Natal and Gauteng and the fear of further spreading our Country, has been very painful and heart-breaking. Many hearts have bled by the scenes of looted malls and looted shops. The billion’s worth of damages added to our already weakened economy heavily affected by the Pandemic.
The many job losses for many South Africans are extremely sad. According to BusinessTech, “South Africa’s week of riots and looting likely cost 50,000 jobs: economists.” The hopelessness many must be feeling at this time is very real.
This devotion would like to turn our attention to Peter’s words to Christians who were scattered in foreign Roman provinces outside their homeland as a result of vicious persecution under Emperor Nero. There they were dispossessed in a foreign land and this is what the Apostle encourages them with by shifting their focus toward this amazing truth that, “According to God’s great mercy He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus from the dead…” (1 Peter 1:3a).
Peter encourages these suffering born-again pilgrims with the amazing truth of our living hope in Christ. – this eternal life.
The Christian’s hope is not dead and lifeless, instead, it’s a breathing hope; a living hope because the very life of the living God is in it. It is not false, deceptive nor empty, but sure and true.
William MacDonald says, “This is our living hope – the expectation of being taken home to heaven to be with Christ and to be like Him forever” into “an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading kept in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:3b).
What transpired in our county has also taught us that while finances are important and possessions a blessing to have, our hope should not be placed in them. They are here today, and tomorrow they may be gone. Instead, as pilgrims in this world, our gaze must be on Christ toward our heavenly home, “… where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal” (Matt. 6:20). May the Lord help those who have lost so much but most importantly may many turn to Jesus Christ through faith alone for living and true hope.
The Bowker Street Baptist Church
Pastor Gino Nel
