Sunday, August 31, 2008

"All Things That Pertain To Life And Godliness"

“ 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:2-8)

Peter’s words above contain the phrase “His divine power has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness.” Such a statement about what God has done for us should certainly excite us, and it should lead to our edification and encouragement. God Himself has supplied the substance for true life and proper living. Given that God has graciously provided, I’m thus free from the weight of having to figure out what life should be and free from the burden of trying to actualize it. I’m to simply live it. My passions and energies (my being built up and delighting in life) are tied to living out God’s provisions.

Yet, why does it seem that we live our lives as if that statement had to be false or some remote fantasy that might possibly pertain to others but could never describe my very life? Well, the answers are many but here’s a few we can probably all relate to: (1) I don’t believe it. It can’t be true. (2) I don’t want to believe it. I don’t want it to be true. (3) I obviously don’t know God. (4) I don’t know God’s word. (5) I like “my” life. I want to keep “my” life. The list could go on.

If the statement God “has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness” is true, then one of the most tragic ways we can short-change ourselves in this life (and the next) is to disbelieve what God has said and to not participate in God’s provision. So, how does one make use of, experience, or live out, the “all things” referenced above? I’ll close with two points then return in more detail later.

First, one must have the desire. If grace is present in the heart, then God’s desire for your growth in His provision is there. God works in you on the heart level. You cannot manufacture this needed desire from the old self. Such a desire is contrary to the old nature. Artificially trying to want and live the Christian life is mission impossible and you’ll recognize this. It is imperative that one have the new life of Christ in them before any proper godly (God oriented) desire and movement can happen. Just as one cannot birth one’s self into God’s Kingdom, so one’s progress and enjoyment in a relation to God must stem from Him. Peter suggests examining one’s relationship to God in the same chapter, verse 10.

Second, one must have direction. Note the text. There are “two” directions. One is toward God. One is away from the corruptions of the world through lust. On the surface, these may seem like two ways of saying the same thing. Perhaps they are. Yet, one likely pertains to my object (God or the world/lust objects) and the other pertains to the consequences of relating to that object (my living). Thus, we have two directions: one an object of devotion; one a way of living. The first is “Here is where I’m going.” The second is “Here is how I’m going.”

Be sure you are living from the right foundation, the right source. Be encouraged in the fact that God has not only redeemed you to Himself through the atonement of His son (for His glory), but that God has provided all that is needed to experience true life that is pleasing to Him and beneficial to you while on your journey to be with Him eternally. While this life will be filled with trials and struggles that wear down and challenge the best of the saints, the promise that God has given us all things pertaining to life and godliness remains unquestionably true and available. May you know both God’s omnipotence and mercy. May you know Him.