Saturday, May 20,
2023
SINCE HE IS COMING
1 Peter 1:17-19
17 And if ye call
on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's
work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:
18 Forasmuch as
ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold,
from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;
19 But with the
precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: KJV
Heb 4:1
4 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering
into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. KJV
Christians are
often condemned by unbelievers of offering pie-in-the-sky to influence us
to avoid our pie now by rigid obedience to archaic rules. Another
strong-arm tactic of evangelism, they say, is fear, as we see it in
the verses above. This word cannot be softened even by more modern
translations, if they are honest because it is the Greek word phobeo which demands the strict interpretation.
Nevertheless, Peter reminds
his readers of a God of Judgment, and we think there is an insinuation of the
Flood of Noah. The follow-up prophecies of another global destruction by fire are
not softened entirely by the rainbow. The warning in verse 17 is prompted by
the fact presented in verse 16. God is Holy and requires holiness of his
followers.
If we see the end
of days as far off, we may be inclined to continue our petty differences and selfish
ways. However, if we believe that His coming is imminent, that He could come at
any moment, we might be more cautious with our complaints, demands, and
differences. We might consider living a holy life. We might consider
maintaining a godly reverence for godly things. This is what it means to be “God
fearing.”
Prov 28:14
14 Happy is the
man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into
mischief. KJV
Dear Lord, remind us often that at any moment we might be called
before your throne. Help us by Thy Spirit to be ready at that time. AMEN
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