1 Peter 1:3-5, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
That word “kept” in these verses stands out to me. Webster’s dictionary definition of the word keep (kept being past tense of keep) says “to retain in one’s possession or power. To have in control; to be faithful to – keep a promise; preserve, maintain, such as to watch over and defend; reserve.” The synonym word for “kept” from thefreedictionary.com is “unbroken, especially of promises or contracts.”
When you are born again in Jesus Christ’s blood shed for you, you have the unbroken promise that, due to your faith, you (I) are kept by the power of God, abiding in a relationship of faith with God. We have a future inheritance in heaven reserved for us. We will receive our Heavenly inheritance. That promise will never be broken and is the hope for our future with God and the Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing can break that promise.
The believers that Peter was writing to were under persecution and were wondering if they were going to make it. “I want you to know something,” Peter said. “You have an inheritance waiting for you that can’t be taken from you. You are kept by the power of God, and He is committed to seeing you through. All that remains for you to do is to believe.” Jon Courson’s Application Commentary. I need a sign on my desk that reads, “Linda, God is committed to seeing you through this. All that remains for you to do is to believe in Him and His power. He will never break His promise to you.”
Think about the promises that people have made to you that they broke. Your expectations were not met. It made you feel like they couldn’t be counted on or trusted, right? What a contrast we have as sons and daughters of our Lord and Savior, of our future in heaven. We don’t know when that day will be. But we have the hope and assurance that day is coming and promised to us due to our faith in Christ’s resurrected power. Meeting Him face to face is our living, eternal, and future hope. God’s promise will never be broken and is reserved and being prepared just for you (me). 2 Timothy 4:8 is our promise from God which states, “There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.” HCSB. That is a promise from God that will not be broken or taken away. He is the great I AM. Jesus knows what you are going through is heavy. Peter knew that about the believers he was writing to. But he had spent time with Jesus for three years. He went from being a middle-class fisherman to that of a scholar, an apostle. Throughout 1 Peter, Peter is saying to set your thoughts and eyes on your final landing, the big picture, on heaven. So, remember the words, kept, keeping, and reserved inheritance as Jesus said, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33. That my friend, is God’s unbroken promise that is being kept for you which results in righteousness, joy, peace, and God’s presence.
Listen to Danny Gokey – Stay Strong (Lyrics Video) August 20, 2021.