I guess sometimes, in order to appreciate where you are, you need to be reminded of where you’ve been. Without some context from the past, the present can seem pretty hard or confusing. Seems that, at least in part, that’s what Peter was trying to do with the brothers and sisters who were on the run from those who opposed the things of Christ. He tried to put their current realities into the context of a bigger picture . . . to encourage them in the path before them with a reminder of where they had already come from . . . and the price that was paid to get them there.

“And if you call on Him as Father who judges impartially according to each one’s deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” (1Peter 1:17-19 ESV)

They could have viewed their exile as an excuse . . . a reason to grow careless concerning their faith . . . a hard set of circumstances justifying attitudes and actions not exactly aligned with walking in a way consistent with their calling in Christ . . . justification for not seeking first the things of God’s eternal kingdom as they were barely making it through the day. But Peter wasn’t having it . . . “conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile.” The exile wasn’t some “exception” allowing them to be lax with the things of Christ. Tough times didn’t alter the nature of God . . . and it didn’t change the nature of their high and holy calling . . . it didn’t lower the bar of expectation for the people of God. Instead, for this season of their lives (yes, for some their last season), it became the arena in which they were to display how to live in the reality of their confession of faith.

Their current realities did not alter the essence and core of who they were. They were a ransomed people.

I like the ESV rendering here. “Redeemed,” used in the other translations, is good, but I do like “ransomed” better. What a reminder that they were once slaves to sin . . . taken captive by another, their lives bound by the chains of spiritual darkness and deadness . . . imprisoned by the limitations of the flesh . . . destined to stumble through life according to the “futile ways” of the forefathers . . . exiles of different kind — separated from the promises and presence of God. But remember, says Peter, that you were ransomed . . . a price was paid for your freedom . . .a payment was made that you might know the liberty that comes from being brought of darkness and into marvelous light. Their release from doing life “the old way” had been secured at a cost . . . a way had been provided so that, those who once were far from God, could now boldly approach Him to find grace and help in time of need. And though life might be getting somewhat chaotic and hard, it didn’t change the fact that they were a purchased people . . . and that God had paid their ransom Himself . . . with the precious blood of His Son.

Paul would say, “For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery” (Gal. 5:1). The voice that says, “Life’s hard. Focus on doing whatever you need to do to get through and don’t worry about living for God . . . you can do that tomorrow when things get easier,” is the voice of a liar. It is the voice of a prison warden who wants take free people and make them captive again. Instead, I’m to be reminded that regardless of today’s circumstance, I have been released from yesterday’s futility because a ransom was paid . . . that the price tendered for such freedom was the precious blood of the Son of God . . . that the grace of God which rescued me from my sin yesterday is the same all-sufficient grace that will sustain me whatever my “exile” looks like today.

Redeemed aka Ransomed . . . how I love to proclaim it! Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. Redeemed through His infinite mercy . . . His child . . . and forever I am. Amen?