Exhortation

It is important amidst the contrary situations that we face in life to always remind ourselves of who we are in Christ Jesus. Amongst unbelievers, they are aware of the fact that no condition is permanent, a common saying which finds a parallel in 2 Cor 4:17, which describe our light afflictions as temporal. Whatever we indeed go through will ultimately come to an end.  Many times we approach our living, God and our Christianity from the standpoint of our problems and we are always encouraged not to focus on them because they are temporal. However, do we really need someone ALL THE TIME to always remind us that problems should not be the reason why we should not praise God? If this is the case, then there is something we are still not seeing – the things that are eternal and permanent (2 Cor 4:18). We spend the majority of our lives trying to look away from our temporal manifold problems. We should realize that as long as we are in this world, we will always have challenges (John 16:33). Rather than spending our time, effort and strength on looking away and dwelling on our temporal troubles, our emphasis and efforts should be on looking unto things eternal (Heb 12:1, 2 Cor 4:18, Col 3:1-2).

The word “looking” as used in Heb 12:2 conveys the idea of looking away from something to focus on another thing. If we are not focused on Jesus, we will keep looking away and carrying our weights. The secret of focusing on Jesus is to realize that what He has done is what is permanent. This should be our source of strength. We should not wake up looking for someone to encourage us, or worrying about our manifold problems. If we do that we will pass our time managing crisis, rather than making progress in God and focusing on what He has done for us and on who He has made us. We should realize that because we are born of Him we are overcomers ALREADY (1 Jn 5:4-5). Victory is not something we are fighting for, we are already in a position of victory. When you have this kind of perspective you can actually look at contrary situations in the face and laugh, without being cajoled, coerced or psyched. This is how true Christianity should be. You can only do this when you realize that He has given you the victory (1 Cor 15:57, Rom 8:38-39) because we have his seed within us (1 Pet 1:23). 

If we are are born again, there is an incorruptible seed in us that cannot be destroyed which gives us victory in life. It is the reason why we can face tomorrow.  Because of the seed of God within, we should be so confident in God that we are not moved by circumstances of life (Acts 20:24). This is the way to approach Christianity, not the wrong approach of viewing it from the perspective of our problems. We should understand that we are God’s investment and that He has a stake in us.  We are His workmanship (Eph 2:10). Many times we do not have this kind of Christ esteem such that when things go wrong we wonder where we missed it and find it hard to praise God. When things go wrong we should retain our confidence in God and praise Him. Our confidence in God should be so strong no matter the circumstances (Acts 20:24).  

We should put our confidence in the fact that we are new creatures. We should not wait until we are pysched and cajoled out of her depressed attitude every Sunday because we live our lives outside of church meetings majority of the time. Rather we should live vibrantly and rejoicing always because of who He has made us. We need to understand that we are sons (1 John 3:1-3) and esteem who we are in Christ. Rather than spend our time wondering and worrying, we should remember His seed within us and plan towards how we will do exploits for God. Our orientation should be on how we can leverage on what God has given us to further His word and shine His light.

Analysis of 1 Pet 2:22-25

1 Pet 1:22- We have purified our souls. When this is read along with Acts 2:40, one may get the impression that Peter implied that salvation comes by human effort. However, that will be inconsistent with a plethora of scriptures which affirm salvation by grace (Eph 2:8, Titus 3:5-6, Rom, 4:1-5, 9:16, 11:6, James 1:17). By having purified their souls, Paul implied that they had OBEYED the truth. To obey the truth in this context means to BELIEVE the truth. Salvation does not come by obeying or keep some rules, or even the Ten Commandments. Rather it comes by believing on Christ through the gospel (John 6:28-29).

1 Pet 1:23 – The word ‘seed’ as used here is equivalent to the English word for sperm. Therefore, it is not agricultural seed, but that of a person. This seed by which we have been begotten is that of God and it is the only thing that is incorruptible under the Sun. Since Adam fell, the whole of the universe, including man and nature, by virtue of the entry of sin into the world became subject to corruption (Rom 8:18-22, Rom 5:12-14,1 Cor 15:42,50, 53,54). It was so bad (Gen 6:11,12) that God had to wipe out the entire human race with a flood sparing only Noah and his a family (Gen 6:-8). But even Noah because he was himself subject to corruption after a bout of drunkenness inadvertently committed incest with His daughters. The new race of men that sprang from Noah (Genesis 9:19) were equally subject to corruption. This was why the Saviour never came by copulation between a man and a woman, otherwise He would have been corrupt. At the right time, Jesus was made of a woman and conceived of the Holy Ghost (Gal 4:4-5, Luke 1:34-35). He did not come of corruptible seed. Likewise, believers have not come of incorruptible seed. Because of God’s investment in mankind, Jesus,  like a grain of wheat died and brought forth believers who are like Him and share His nature (Jn 12:24) – an incorruptible seed. This new identity we have in Him should give us a sense of worth and esteem to make us hold our heads high amidst the circumstances of life.

1 Pet 1:24 – When we look around the universe, we see things and the works of the hands of man that can be termed the glories of this world. We see architectural masterpieces, technology-enabled devices, exotic cars, well-planned cities, beautiful women, power, fame, immense wealth and huge human accomplishments. We can call this the glory of man. However, Peter likens the whole of unredeemed humanity and its glories to the flower of a grass which ceases to be when the grass withers. 

He was stressing their transient, corruptible or temporary nature. We should realize that all we see in this world is temporal and not worth focusing on, so if they disappear we do not inadequate

1 Pet 1:25 – Peter contrasted the transience of humanity and its glories, to the eternal nature of God’s word – the word of the gospel by which were begotten. The seed of God that saved us and reproduced in us abides forever. This implies that God’s interest in us is forever. We must be confident of the fact that He has an investment in us, and that in this life and beyond, we have a hope and a future. In this life we are designed for exploits. Sadly what most of us do because we fashion our own plans exclusive of God, is struggle to go from level to level, gearing all our efforts and endeavours towards our pre-planned end. We forget that God has plan for us, much grander and fulfilling than our own puny thoughts (Is 55:8, Eph 3:20). It is because we are oblivious of this that we get grounded when we have a small problem. Some even question, challenge and fight God, not learning from Job’s example who eventually learnt the wisdom of committing the keeping of His soul to a faithful, all-wise, sovereign God.

We need to stay grounded and rather than questioning, trust that God has a plan for our lives, which our circumstances cannot thwart of frustrate. We see the reality of the foregoing in the life of Joseph Joseph was hated by his brothers; sold into slavery; got into trouble and was cast into prison for not sleeping with Potiphar’s wife; became head of the prisoners; forgotten by Pharaoh’s butler for years; before eventually becoming the second most powerful man in Egypt after about 13 years. Joseph could have been bitter against God after waiting for several years, for showing him things which seemed was never going to come to pass. He could have been forgiven if he concluded that God’s plan for Him was to remain in Potiphar’s house or remain in prison and be a good influence there. However Joseph trusted God as He worked out His plan in His life. God’s plan was grander than Joseph’s understanding of it. Joseph thought it was merely to preserve Israel during famine (Gen 50:20). However, God’s ultimate objective was to preserve the nation from whom Jesus the Saviour was to come (Rom 9:5).

Many times we feel we have served God enough and do not deserve our unsavoury circumstances. We wonder where God is taking us to and at times jump to the wrong conclusion. We wonder why God allows circumstances He could have prevented from happening to us. But we must realize that God has a plan and end in view concerning our situation. He is working out things  for His glory. There is a seed and Spirit within us which God uses to lead, guide and to direct our paths. His eyes are fixed on us. Rather than focus on problems, let us focus on the real thing. Let us have the attitude of rejoicing (Rom 12:12, Php 4:4), not merely because we know that our circumstances are temporal, but because we know He has a plan for our lives, because of what He has done for us, and because of His investment in us. We should change our thinking about God. He loves us so much and He is committed to us. Our circumstances are part of what God is using to get us to where He wants to take us.