Saturday, March 14, 2009
Great and Precious
(II Peter 1:1-14)
We live in a needy world. The secularization of our society has left people seeking for answers in spurious places. Popular psychology leaves men confused, atheism leaves men empty, and hedonism (the love of pleasure) leaves men degraded. The secular world offers no significant meaning for life. Their credo: “Eat, drink, and be merry—for tomorrow we die.” And for some, death appears a welcome relief to their meaningless existence.
The great tragedy in all of this is that it doesn’t have to be! Believers approach life from an entirely different standpoint. Life for the dedicated Christian is an adventure, a journey, a race, and a purpose. Peter tells believers that God has given us “all things that pertain unto life and godliness through the knowledge of [Christ].” We are fully equipped in Christ to handle every challenge, every crisis, every vicissitude life throws at us.
Not only that, but we possess great and precious promises that make us partakers of Christ’s nature and allow us to escape the corruption of this world (4). Think about it: In Christ we are new creations with new natures and a new inoculation against the contagions of the world. That which ultimately causes the secularist to sicken and die can leave no mark upon believers! We have new life, abundant life, in Christ. Now, that’s what this weary world needs!
