Peter's Hope

I remember driving through the village of Peter’s Hope, on the coast of the island of Saint Vincent. As we drove along, those of us in the car speculated as to why the community was so named. Of course none of us knew for sure, but we wondered if there wasn’t a Peter who, for one reason or another, settled in the area, with some hope for a good and prosperous future. A better life, a new beginning, a fresh start for his family  ...  yes, it could have been any number of things.
Whatever it was, it made me think of the hope the Apostle Peter speaks of in 1 Peter 1:3: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to His abundant mercy hath begotten us unto a [living] hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” This is a real and certain hope!
We can only wonder if the Peter of Saint Vincent ever realized his dream and goal.
The believer has a hope in the Lord Jesus Christ based on the fact that He died on the cross, rose from the dead, and now lives in heaven. The Apostle Peter further tells us, in the same chapter, to “hope to the end” (1 Peter 1:33Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, (1 Peter 1:3)). He also says, “Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you” (1 Peter 3:1515But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:15)).
Someone else has said that “hope is an indispensable quality of life.” It is hope that keeps us focused and living for Christ from day to day.