SAFE KEEPING

1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

This portion of the Bible is one that reminds us to quit listening to the devil and start listening to God. The recipients were Christians scattered throughout many places in Asia Minor. (verse 1) Yet Peter knew where they were. Here they are feeling like strangers, but Peter found them. We just finished up a study on Daniel and the three Hebrew children.
Where were they? In Babylon. See Chapter 5:13–The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son. Notice where Peter is when he writes this letter to those scattered Christians. In Babylon. Wicked Babylon. The tower of Babel was built in Babylon. Most false religions originated in Babylon. It had a bad reputation. This is a testament to the impact of this book. Wicked Babylon survived with a group of believers living there. Peter knew where they were, but they also knew where he was. That was an encouragement to the churches to know that in the midst of such a wicked place were believers just like them. This is a testament to us today. If Peter could do it in Babylon, we can do it right now. We can live in victory right here and now.

Under the rule of the vast Roman empire they were forced to meet in secret. Rome couldn't find them but the underground communication went on. This letter let them know Peter was still alive. Just as this letter encouraged the Christians in that day, it helps us now. The Holy Spirit inspired Peter to write it to all everywhere. We need to remember to trust the Lord for his safekeeping.

The struggles they faced made them feel like strangers, outcasts from society, weak and lonely. The more they tried to serve the Lord, the more displaced they felt. Then came this epistle from Peter. Sometimes it's healthy to feel left out and alone–not part of this world. Persecution lets us know we're still on the right track. Stranger means passing through somewhere to get to another place. When life gets to us, remember we are only strangers passing through this life–something better than this life is to come. We must pass through here to get where we're going. The world makes us feel strange, but Peter says that is all right. Sometimes being scattered and feeling like strangers is hard but think of it like this. We are there; we are here. IT IS NOT YOU AND ME. IT IS WE. We are not on our own. We are the church of God and WE are ONE. The devil tries to get the upper hand and acts like he is bigger than he is. BUT attitude and reality are everything. Asia Minor had Christians; Paul was in Rome; Peter was in Babylon. Believers were in Spain and other countries in Europe. When Elisha was surrounded by the enemy, his servant was terrified. Elisha told him to look around. A host of angels were round about them. Remember who we are. HE that is in us is greater.

This group of Christians was scattered, but verse two calls them elect. In this instance elect is a noun. The ELECT–WE–We are scattered, but we are the elect of God. We're strangers, but we are the elect of God. Elect means chosen by God for his saving grace. We didn't choose God–he chose us first. We don't just decide one day to get saved. We don't put it on the list of things to do like a trip to Walmart. We feel the conviction; that brings about emptiness. This is God dealing with our souls. It comes from another world and turns the screws so to speak. We feel like a slide under a microscope. God chose us by his saving grace so that we can receive him. God elected to deal with us. We are elected to endure. GOD INTENDS FOR US TO GET TO HEAVEN. HERE IS THE SAFE KEEPING. He doesn't save us to make mistakes of us. God is bigger than what we know, and he still calls us his children.

Look at these verses and find the hub—-the central phrase or words that tie it all together. Verse three is a hint. He has begotten us again unto a lively hope. We'll pick it up next week.