1So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. 2You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God. 3You have had enough in the past of the evil things that godless people enjoy—their immorality and lust, their feasting and drunkenness and wild parties, and their terrible worship of idols. 4Of course, your former friends are surprised when you no longer plunge into the flood of wild and destructive things they do. So they slander you. 5But remember that they will have to face God, who will judge everyone, both the living and the dead. 6That is why the Good News was preached to those who are now dead —so although they were destined to die like all people, they now live forever with God in the Spirit. 7The end of the world is coming soon. Therefore, be earnest and disciplined in your prayers. 8Most important of all, continue to show deep love for each other, for love covers a multitude of sins. 9Cheerfully share your home with those who need a meal or a place to stay. (1 Peter 4:1-9 NLT)
When I read these words I think of the old hymn, “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.” The lyrics of that hymn are so simple, so powerful, and so true. “The cross before me; The world behind me,” we sing. We raise our hands and continue, “Tho none go with me, I still will follow.” – but are we truly aware of what we are saying? Who – or what must I leave behind? Why can’t I have all of it – the hellish world and the promise of Heaven? Why is God so unfair? Peter’s words of 2,000 years ago ring so true today; and as I read them I cannot help but think about young people who are confronted with such a choice. Our world enthralls and addicts people to its never-ending conveyor belt of temptation and satisfaction as we lustfully pursue the desires of our will at the neglect of God’s. We read the words of Peter and sing the lyrics of the old hymn and think to ourselves, “who would want that?” “I am not willing to give up my self-satisfying lifestyle, my parties, my lust, and my gluttonous ways.” And so it is… As the world continues to evolve – we as a species continue to devolve – morally, ethically, spiritually – we are decaying from the inside out. We are fighting and drinking and playing and, well, living our way to Hell with huge, self-satisfied and entirely fake smiles on our faces and gigantic, God-shaped holes in our hearts. Please know as God’s creation that you do not have to live this way! There is salvation from the decay and the promise of eternal life in heaven. I urge you, brothers and sisters, LOOK UP and to THE CROSS! Be made Holy by the saving grace of Jesus Christ and EMBRACE your holiness! Be different! Be Weird! Show the world that there is, in fact, a better way of being and doing and LIVING! And always remember this truth – THERE IS NO SAFER PLACE YOU WILL EVER BE THAN IN GOD’S WILL.
When I read these words I think of the old hymn, “I Have Decided to Follow Jesus.” The lyrics of that hymn are so simple, so powerful, and so true. “The cross before me; The world behind me,” we sing. We raise our hands and continue, “Tho none go with me, I still will follow.” – but are we truly aware of what we are saying? Who – or what must I leave behind? Why can’t I have all of it – the hellish world and the promise of Heaven? Why is God so unfair? Peter’s words of 2,000 years ago ring so true today; and as I read them I cannot help but think about young people who are confronted with such a choice. Our world enthralls and addicts people to its never-ending conveyor belt of temptation and satisfaction as we lustfully pursue the desires of our will at the neglect of God’s. We read the words of Peter and sing the lyrics of the old hymn and think to ourselves, “who would want that?” “I am not willing to give up my self-satisfying lifestyle, my parties, my lust, and my gluttonous ways.” And so it is… As the world continues to evolve – we as a species continue to devolve – morally, ethically, spiritually – we are decaying from the inside out. We are fighting and drinking and playing and, well, living our way to Hell with huge, self-satisfied and entirely fake smiles on our faces and gigantic, God-shaped holes in our hearts. Please know as God’s creation that you do not have to live this way! There is salvation from the decay and the promise of eternal life in heaven. I urge you, brothers and sisters, LOOK UP and to THE CROSS! Be made Holy by the saving grace of Jesus Christ and EMBRACE your holiness! Be different! Be Weird! Show the world that there is, in fact, a better way of being and doing and LIVING! And always remember this truth – THERE IS NO SAFER PLACE YOU WILL EVER BE THAN IN GOD’S WILL.
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