1 Peter 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead”. “Born again to a living hope”. I came to Christ out of the fear of Hell. When I learned that I could be sure of Heaven, I just had to accept Christ, I was in. I didn’t know what it was to be born again. I knew I had the hope of Heaven, but I didn’t know the depth of what the “living hope” was. I was putting to rest a fear. We do gain Heaven, based on the transaction, but we get so much more. I thought I only had a reserved seat when I got there. I wasn’t aware of the “living” part. Adam and Eve had a dynamic relationship with God. It seemed that they would walk with God in the cool of the day. The radiance and all that eminates from God would filter through them. His joy and peace was theirs. But their disobediance separated them. All of His influence stopped. Our “living hope” is the downpayment or receipt of Heaven. However, it’s reconcilation with God. It’s Eden restored. He wants to flood us with His influence like our first parents. We get His peace and joy. We aren’t aware of this at the start. It’s too much to comprehend. As we walk with Christ through the years, we learn of it. I’m sure there is still the majority which I still don’t get, but what I do understand is incredible. God’s peace floods our lives. Philipians 4:6,7 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Anxiety is a common emotion amongst us. Some have it more than others. Some are so plaqued that they despair to live. The Lord wants to take care of that. He wants to replace that with His peace. It passes our understanding. We shouldn’t be at rest in particular circumstances. But He does it. He fills us with His joy. A few verses later in 1 Peter, it says, “and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory”. Joy inexpressible. We, as a people, seek joy. We do it by a multitude of means. Some are healthy, others aren’t. Some of the ways that aren’t are using God ordained ways, but are abusing them. Joy is more than happiness. I’ve heard it said that “Happiness comes from happenings, but joy comes from Jesus.” We can have this joy is down times. We don’t have to be vacationing in Hawaii. We can be in a problem at work and still have joy. It’s a constant, if we trust Him. It’s the new normal. It can’t be explained. We shouldn’t have joy in particular circumstances, but we do. That’s what Peter means. This depth of it is also difficult to describe. It comes from Christ. Those that aren’t connected to Him, don’t have it. When I received Christ, I felt a lightness, but that’s all. For what really happened (reconciliation with God-the angels rejoicing) it was very dramatic. I felt the affects as the weeks and months went by. I was connected to someone who loves me best and actively was involved in my life. Yes, I received the downpayment for Heaven, but it was a living one. One that would fill and change my whole life. At each turn it was by faith. I was blind to it. But He peals off the scales and the callouses go away and we sense Him. We are walking with Him in this world and we begin to sense it. Lord, thank You for this living hope. Thank You Jesus that You paid the price. Thank You Spirit that You’re the One with us daily. Thank You, Father for adopting us into this living hope.