South Valley Community Church

“Abandon hope all ye who enter here.” This famous quote comes from a 14th century poem by Dante Alighieri called Inferno. He wasn’t speaking of this world, but he could have. Where is hope found? Peter reminds the “elect exiles” that their hope should be set fully on Jesus. Our plans may fail, our retirement vanish, our loved ones leave, our homes come to ruin, our bodies weaken and waste, and nothing in this world can guarantee immunity or preservation from any of it. We need help and assurance that “all is well” when life is at its hardest. But our eyes are lifted because our lives have been given new birth into a living hope. God’s “word” is the source of this hope. Because His gospel promises never fail. It is the believers’ food, growing and changing us. Peter not only wants us to long for it, but to be motivated by it in every circumstance. 22 Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 23 since you have been born