"But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works shall be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness. . . (2 Peter 3:10-11, NASB, emphasis mine)
What sort of people should we be? Too often that is the unasked question. We sometimes busy ourselves worrying over what sort of people our neighbors should be. But God has never given us any commandment to even think that way. In fact, that is the polar opposite of how he wants us to think.
Such thinking leads us away from God rather than closer to Him. It is the kind of the thought process that leads us into thinking we are somehow capable of judging other's hearts and with that capacity we are granted the right to condemn them, or worse, rule over them with a holy rod, forcing the world into holiness.
If that were God's intent, He would have given the Christ a different mission - one closer to the vision the Jews had of the Messiah - a mighty warrior who would restore God's earthly kingdom on earth. But that isn't God's plan at all. Not for His Christ; not for us; not even for this earth. The earth is destined for destruction, so there is no value in even trying to establish a holy kingdom here.
The question is "What kind of people should we be?" The hearts we need to judge, you and I, are our own. How close are we, really, to holy conduct and godliness? How loving are we, really? How willing are we to sacrifice our own comfort for the sake of others' spiritual well being? How quick are we to forgive the faults of others? Are we eager to lead others to Christ? Or are we just eager to enforce a holy life style on the world without considering what that really means for ourselves?
In truth, most often we fail, and fail miserably. We examine ourselves with too keen an eye for our righteousness, and too dull an eye for our faults. Do we really believe that God has a hierarchy for sin and that one sort of sinner is worse than another? Do we ever look at ourselves as liars, or cheats, or consider the murders we commit in our hearts when we pass judgment on others? Do we think we have moved beyond repentance? In Scripture, "repent" is a verb of continuing action, not a one time event.
Peter reminds us that the things we hold dear on earth are temporary and the things that are permanent are not of this earth at all. Gaining permanence with God requires a keen sense of our own failures and a determination to use those faults as spurs to forgiveness of the frailties of others. We need to move with kindness and love, not just for brothers in Christ (and sisters, too), but for those who are far from Christ, as well. We must never let ourselves forget how we became Christians in the first place. Or why.
Something Paul wrote to Timothy resonates with me more than anything: The Lord's bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition if perhaps God my grant them repentance leading the the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil having been held captive by him to do his will. (2 Timothy, 2:24-26 NASB)
There is holy conduct and godliness in action. That is the sort of people we should be - kind, gently teaching, patient when we are wronged, always working to lead others out of the devil's snare. That is our mission as the end draws near. Such people will not be left behind in any sense because these are the ones that draw near to God and strive to draw others with them.
Christ said to Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world." Neither is ours and we need to stop thinking that it is. We need to be mindful of what kind of people will inhabit that kingdom when this world passes away and to strive within ourselves to be just that kind of people.
This is the right kind of polarizing:). Very clearly expressed and thought provoking. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteJ
Insightful and concise. The truth is simple, it's when we equivocate things become complicated.
ReplyDelete"The hearts we need to judge, you and I, are our own."
ReplyDeleteThe questions you ask in this post are potent, meant for the prayer closet! If a person is filling up each moment with the LOVE of Jesus Christ, each of the questions you pose are little pin pricks, because if we are honest, as we move through the day, in the world, there are many challenges to that LOVE. It is the overflow of our relationship to Christ that walks out into the world. Without the filling of the Holy Spirit and obedience to the Word of God, leading step by step, it is impossible to be what I 'should' be. And many times if a person IS indeed walking IN Christ, abiding, it does not APPEAR that way to those looking on. God leads in serendipitous paths, HIS HOLY ground is not always an altar, sometimes it is a burning bush; many times it isn't a crowd in a church meeting, but the isolation of a mountain top. I know you know what I mean. Thanks for these thought provoking posts, I. Barnabas. Prayers and God's grace as you share with those who will hear.