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b'Do you ever think about eternity? As a little kid, I used to lie awake at\\nnight, thinking about what it would be like to live forever and ever and\\never\\u2014with no end. An eternal life with God! There was no way to wrap my\\nmind around the idea. No matter how many zeroes I put on the end of the\\nnumber of years, it would still be just a beginning to eternity.\\nThis is the perspective that the apostle Peter wanted his readers to have\\nwhen they read his letter to them\\u2014we now call this letter \\u201c1 Peter.\\u201d In it,\\nPeter is writing to believers in the early church during a time of\\nsuffering and persecution. Although he addresses their suffering in much of\\nthe letter, Peter wants them to remember their \\u201cliving hope,\\u201d their eternal\\nsalvation and their \\u201cinheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade\\u2026kept\\nin heaven\\u201d (1:3-4). The \\u201clittle while\\u201d that believers have to \\u201csuffer grief\\nin all kinds of trials\\u201d (1:6) cannot be compared to the eternal salvation\\nthat awaits God\\u2019s children. Jesus will return and unite heaven and earth,\\nand everyone who has put their trust in Jesus will live and reign with Him\\nforever. Even now we can be filled with \\u201can inexpressible and glorious joy\\u201d\\n(1:8) as we rest in Jesus\\u2019s love for us and anticipate eternity with Him.\\nPeter also reminds his readers they are \\u201ca chosen people, a royal\\npriesthood, a holy nation, God\\u2019s special possession\\u201d (2:9). He encourages\\nthem to remember that, even if they suffer for doing good, ultimately they\\nwill be blessed for doing what is right. Since \\u201cthe end of all things is\\nnear\\u201d (4:7), believers should live self-controlled lives that are marked by\\nprayer. \\u201cAbove all, love each other deeply,\\u201d Peter urges, \\u201cbecause love\\ncovers over a multitude of sins\\u201d (4:8).\\nSuffering is temporary. Our salvation in Christ is for all eternity! These\\nthemes in 1 Peter have encouraged believers ever since he wrote them two\\nthousand years ago. \\u2022 Laura N. Sweet\\n\\u2022 Have you ever stopped to really think about eternity? What amazes you the\\nmost about eternal life with Christ\\u2014which is promised to everyone who has\\nput their trust in Jesus, believing He died on the cross and rose from the\\ngrave for us?\\n\\u2022 When we are going through hard times, why might it be helpful to remember\\nthat our suffering will only last a little while compared to living forever\\nwith Jesus in renewed creation? How might looking forward to Jesus\\u2019s return\\naffect the way we live now?\\nIn his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the\\nresurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. 1 Peter 1:3 (NIV)\\n\\xa0\\nRead Verses:\\n1Pet.3.13-1Pet.3.18|1Pet.4.7-1Pet.4.8|1Pet.1.3-1Pet.1.9'