Since the earth, the heavens
and the elements thereof will be dissolved, the apostle Peter asked
his readers to consider what sort of people they should be in light
of these things? He told them that the delay of God does not mean
that He has forgotten or will not do as He said, but He rather has
given time for all to come to repentance through His Son Jesus. In
chapter three and verse fourteen Peter adds more to how his audience
should be as they look for these things. He wrote:
Wherefore, beloved,
seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you may be
found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
The
verse begins, “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such
things,...” Peter begins with the word “Wherefore”
which means “therefore” and is a word that draws a conclusion.
Whenever there is a “wherefore” in the scriptures readers
should see what the “wherefore” is “therefore”. In
other words, what was written just before it that should bring the
reader to the conclusion that is about to be made. In this reference
the audience is to consider the pending destruction of the earth, the
heavens and the elements thereof. Peter wrote that they are to be in
a state of expectancy, and he reference them as the “beloved”
or “esteemed, dear, favored or loved”. He also presumes they are
“looking for such things”.
The verse goes on to say,
“be diligent that you may be found of him in peace, without spot,
and blameless.” These to whom
Peter writes are to “be diligent”
which means “to make haste, endeavor, give diligence to” three
following traits. First, they are to be “found of him in
peace”. Peace is “the
tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and
so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of
whatsoever sort that is”. Secondly, they are to be “without
spot” which means they are to
be “free from censure, irreproachable, free from vice,
unsullied”. Finally they are to be “blameless” or “those
who cannot be censored, above suspicion, clean, faultless and
impeccable”. Since they “look for such things” their
entire behavior should be altered by them.
When we
examine our own lives in light of this verse, do we actually “look
for such things” as Peter's audience was presumed to do? Are we
“diligent” to be “found of him” with “peace,
without spot, and blameless” as instructed by Peter? Perhaps as
we consider the words of this verse we will examine our own state and
realize there are some areas that need God's help to align them. How
blessed we are to know that our Heavenly Father not only gave us
scriptures like this through the apostle Peter, but He also stands
ready to help us when we come to Him in prayer. May we seek His face
and His ways as we ponder the things to come, and may he give us the
peace, spotlessness, and lack of blame He desires for us to exhibit
while we wait.
Next
time we will see the purpose of Jesus tarrying, so read ahead, and we
shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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