Wednesday, October 27, 2010

October 27, 2010

"Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives." II Peter 3:11
C.S. Lewis, "It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they became so ineffective in this one."
This world is going to be destroyed and everything in it. All the glitz and glitter of this world that grabs our attention and affections will evaporate in a second when God sends His Son to mark the end of time. The God Who has been redeeming this world since moments after the fall will bring His redemptive plan to completion in a manner that has been prophecied for centuries.
How can you make sure you are not destroyed with the world?
Doesn't it make sense that if you want avoid being destroyed with the world that you should act and think differently from the world? It really doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this out.
Peter states the obvious because it obviously needed to be said. Because you live in the world with worldly pressures and demands it takes discipline and focus to keep from being conformed to the ways of that world. That is what "worldliness" means.
If you want to avoid perishing with the world you must come out of the world. Actually, that is what the Church is. The greek word translated "church" means "called out ones" and "called out" people must live godly and holy lives.
The supernatural spiritual transformation that God desires to work in you should evidence itself in your actions and attitudes. To escape the destruction of this world you must escape its corruption. That requires you to obey God and live according to His Word and be led by His Spirit. When that happens the "spiritual man" will control the "physical man" and behavior dramatically changes.
Heavenly-minded people make earth a better place! What about you?


October 26, 2010

"....what manner of persons ought you to be......?" II Peter 3:11


Membership has its privileges and its responsibilities!
As a high school student I was given a set of rules that I was expected to keep. For the privilege of going to that school I was told what sort of person I should be.
When I became a member of Silver Lake Wesleyan Church I was asked to subscribe to a code of conduct and behavior.
The same happened when I enrolled at Indiana Wesleyan.
In fact, as I think about it, every organization I joined or every athletic team I played on has had a set of guidelines, rules or code of conduct stipulating what sort of person they expected me to be as a member of that group. That is entirely appropriate.
Why then, as people claiming to be followers of Christ not expect to display attitudes and conduct consistent with the character of Christ? As those professing a belief in a holy and perfect eternal destination should they not possess attitudes and behavior befitting of heaven?
Of course!
In II Peter 3, Peter is calling these believers to live up to the expectations incumbent on those preparing for eternity in heaven. The word "ought" carries the idea of necessity. Holy living is not optional for those preparing for a holy place!
People who are preparing for a better place should also be making their homes, their churches, their communites and their world a better place!
Planning on going to heaven? Act like it!