“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. Through these He has given us His precious and magnificent promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, now that you have escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue; and to virtue, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities and continue to grow in them, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever lacks these traits is nearsighted to the point of blindness, having forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins. Therefore, brothers, strive to make your calling and election sure. For if you practice these things you will never stumble, and you will receive a lavish reception into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:3-11 BSB)
There is so much in this passage that every time I read it I am completely awestruck and overwhelmed.
…I have been given EVERYTHING I need for LIFE and GODLINESS!
…I have been given PRECIOUS and MAGNIFICENT promises!
…I have been given the ability to become a PARTAKER of the DIVINE NATURE!
…I have been given the way to ESCAPE the CORRUPTION of the world!
…I have been given a way to NEVER STUMBLE!
When I meditate on these things I am taken so deep into “Heavenly Places” that the world around me fades into insignificance and foolishness. The only thing that brings me back is the need to share what I have in Christ with those who don’t yet have a clue.
For much of my life I held the misconception that the only way I would mature in Christ was through trials and tribulations. I misread the passages that describe the benefits that can come from going through difficulties as saying that they are sent from my Father in Heaven to teach and develop me (or at least allowed by Him for my good). I mistakenly thought that hardships were my Father’s preferred method of teaching. While, in this life difficulties are sometimes unavoidable, the Holy Spirit used this passage to straighten out my thinking, and show me a better way.
After sharing these mind blowing “givens” that I listed above, Peter goes on to give me a building plan to spiritual stability and maturity. He actually makes the outrageous claim that I can become so sure footed in my walk with the Lord that I will NEVER stumble. That to me is the epitome of Christ-like maturity. And you will notice that nowhere on this path does he mention the need of outside forces coming against me to pressure me into growth.
When I either purposely, or unknowingly, allow good times and blessings to blind me to my need for spiritual discipline and growth, I open the door to life’s difficulties, trials, and tribulations. When they come, they are not from God, but He will turn them to my advantage if I allow Him to. I consider this approach to growth “curative.” When needed, the “curative” approach may save my life. However, there is a better way. I have learned from the medical world that preventive is much more beneficial (and far less painful and costly) than curative. I believe that is what Peter is showing me.
I have been given a foundation of precious and magnificent promises to build on. I start with knowing by faith that I already possess the “givens,” and then before anything comes into my life forcing me to grow, I choose to build my spiritual house using…
…Virtue
…Knowledge
…Self control
…Perseverance
…Godliness
…Brotherly kindness
…Love
Here is the icing on the cake: The Holy Spirit is the Master Builder, and He has already given me all of these building materials. Look at what the Apostle Paul wrote: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” (Galatians 5:22-23 BSB) Do you see how closely these “fruits” match what Peter described as the building materials for spiritual growth?
My place is to submit to the guidance, teaching, and empowerment of the Holy Spirit, and He will build the house. I do not need to find the supplies, I already have them. I do not need to toil and sweat to build the house. I need to rest in the finished work of Christ, and focus my attention on assisting the Master Builder (Holy Spirit) as He builds my house (life) for me.
Following this building plan proactively will put me in a place in which I NEVER STUMBLE, and receive a LAVISH RECEPTION into the ETERNAL KINGDOM of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Peter is not talking about Heaven someday. He is talking about Kingdom living today. Remember that Jesus announced that the Kingdom was at hand. He said that the Kingdom is within me. And He taught me to pray that the Kingdom come in my life with expectation of the manifestation of my Father’s will now on Earth as it is in Heaven.
When I embrace the promises, build the house, and expect the Kingdom of Heaven to manifest in my life, I will never stumble and will lavishly enter into the Kingdom now. Then when the winds of life blow, instead of accepting them as teaching tools from God, I will recognize where they actually originate, and be able to stand against them in victory, safe and secure in my spiritual house built by the Master Builder.
That is why I will follow…
…Eric’s Life Lesson # 148: “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” (proactive spiritual discipline)