Living Hope and Enduring Grace; 1 Peter 5:6-11

Tim Keller passed away Friday, three years after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Keller was a significant voice in the Christian faith, often confrontational, always kind, and always pointing people to Jesus. I followed him on Twitter, where, among the short rants offered by way too many, Keller presented grace, reason, and Christ. A week ago, Tim Keller posted, "If the most powerful person, the power behind the universe loves you with all his heart, soul, strength, and mind, and you can see that on the cross, why are you afraid?" All this while his body daily reminded him that time was short. Tim Keller had what the apostle Peter called "a living hope." That's been the driving force as we've looked at 1 Peter in these weeks after Easter. "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." So, I echo Keller, "why are you afraid?" in this message, we wrap up our trip through 1 Peter with a fantastic promise for our lives today and eternity as well.