The doctor tells you that today is your last day alive on earth. “Tonight, at midnight you will die of a rare disease that though no treatment is available we can be readily sure of the time of your demise. You have until midnight tonight to take care of your affairs.” What would be going through your head at this moment? What pressing matters would you be sure to take care of? Who would you see and what would you say to them? When we see time compressed in such a way we tend to look at things differently. What should be our daily values are brought into focus with a clarity rarely seen in normal light. Peter tells us this morning that the end of all things is near. Peter is reminding us that we have some pressing business matters as Christians that should be part of our daily values but often aren’t because of a misconstrued sense of priorities. Peter’s key idea in this passage of Scripture is that the imminency of Christ’s return calls for us to live in view of His coming. There is a statement that I am going to mention a few times because it helps us to realize just what Peter is saying. It is this: “There is time for action but no time to waste” (Michaels 245). In this passage of Scripture Peter describes four ways how we should conduct ourselves (conduct our business) in view of Christ’s coming.
1. Be Disciplined and Watchful in Prayer
The first way that Peter describes how we should conduct ourselves is to be disciplined and watchful in prayer. This is what Peter says in verse 7. “Be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. The two words that Peter uses here explain the two extremes that we should avoid as Christians in waiting for our Lord’s return.
A. Avoid End Times frenzy (Be of sound judgment)
The first extreme that Peter explains we should avoid is end times frenzy. The word, “sound judgment” describes that which is rational or disciplined and restrained. It could be translated, “Keep your head about you.” The word (sound judgment) is used in Mark where the man whom Jesus healed of the legion of demons was now in his right mind. He was no longer a raving lunatic as he had been when under the control of the demons. His mind was now rational. The word is also used in Acts 26, where Paul makes his legal defense before King Agrippa and Festus. As he tells them of his salvation through Christ, Festus calls out to Paul, “You are out of your mind, much learning has made you mad.” Paul replied that the words he spoke were true and rational. The word rational found in verse 25 is the same word Peter uses here translated as “sound judgment.”
In waiting for our Lord’s return Peter wants us to avoid end times frenzy that sometimes accompanies an end-times perspective. There are many examples of this frenzied extremism that we could mention but I will focus on just a couple. Date setting is one form of frenzied extremism. We have seen this in the form of a booklet written by a gentleman in 1988 called, “88 Reasons Why the Jesus Will Return in 1988.” This set off such a stir among some in the Christian community that it caused people to forget that though Christ’s return is imminent we are to have a long term focus in not neglecting our present duties. Another example of this frenzied extremism is what I would describe as name-calling. Through the almost previous two decades that I have been a Christian, I have heard many people name who the Antichrist is going to be. Somehow all their names add up to 666. How many combinations of letters can you add up to 666? All have turned out to be wrong. And will those currently in the running for Antichrist also be wrong? Probably because the book of Daniel describes his initial public presence as small. He will sneak up on the radar screen of the world. And the tribulation will be well on its way before he is recognized for who he is. So let us stop wasting our time guessing. Let us stop this end times frenzy lest we neglect our duty to pray as we should because we are scanning the papers for the latest theory on Christ’s return. The apostle Paul had to deal with this very issue in Thessalonica. He had taught many things about the return of Christ and the coming of Antichrist. Yet in his second letter to the church at Thessalonica he had to address a group of people who had ceased to work because of the imminency of Christ’s return. They had to be admonished that they were to get back to work and not grow weary of doing good. Peter warns us that we are not to give way to an eschatological frenzy in face of the imminent end of all things. To do so is to fall victim to the world and its own unrest at the thought of coming cataclysm. We must not have a careless attitude toward our daily responsibilities because the Lord might return today. We must still think of what Christ has for us to do in the long run. The pastor who founded Central Baptist Seminary, Dr. R.V. Clearwaters (a godly man), said, “If I knew the Lord was coming in 10 years and He wanted me in the ministry, I would still spend the necessary years studying in preparation for the ministry.” Even if the Lord is coming tomorrow there is still no shortcut for sanctification.
If we do not have a sound and disciplined outlook toward the return of Christ then we will cause other people to scoff at us and reject the truth claims of the Bible. People will not take us seriously.
B. Avoid superficial nominalism (Be sober)
The second extreme that Peter says that we should avoid is superficial nominalism. He says be sober. What do I mean by a superficial nominalism? I mean that we avoid merely give lip service to the Lord’s return. In a superficial nominalism we would have no real concern for the lost. We would have no great desire to accomplish God’s will during the remaining time we have on earth, whether that is 1 day or 70 years. In this superficial Christianity we are concerned more about getting through the day and relaxing than looking for opportunities to live for Christ before a watching world. Peter says, “Be sober.” This means that we are to have a clear and unclouded view of our responsibility as believers. We have not just been put here without any real purpose but we are to recognize that as Christians we have been given an eternal purpose in living. We are not just on a Ferris wheel at an amusement park waiting for it to stop so we can say, “Nice ride.” If that is life to you, you have sorely missed the higher life to which Christ has called you and the attendant responsibility that goes along with it. Don’t come to the end of your life having lived it for yourself without any thought of how you could impact those around you for Christ. Because you won’t be the only one highly disappointed at the outcome.
We are to be of sound judgment (unfrenzied by current events) and sober (serious in our purpose) so that we might give ourselves to pray in earnest for those around us to be saved and for the strength to carry out our part in this. Peter knew that if we were frenzied by end-times paranoia we might not think clearly enough to pray and on the opposite extreme if we were not sober and serious about the consequences of the Lord’s imminent return we might not be concerned enough to pray. We need to recognize balance in the Christian life.
Peter is saying that we are neither to be doomsday sign carriers nor cosmic bungee jumpers. We are not to be doomsday sign carriers, these people who wear placards saying the world is ending today. Society writes those people off. But neither at the other end of the spectrum are we to be cosmic bungee jumpers. Those people who flit from experience to experience looking for another thrill with no serious regard to the purpose of their lives. The one group is into extreme eschatological panic and therefore cannot pray while the other group is into extreme pleasure and is unwilling to pray for why should they waste their time with something so serious.
Peter is saying that there is time for action but no time to waste. The imminency Christ’s return calls us to live in light of His coming. And this means that we ought to give ourselves to serious prayer. We cannot understand how powerful prayer is until we give ourselves to it fully. By all means Peter says, “Pray!” If our attitude toward Christ’s return is superficial then we will not take prayer seriously. If our attitude toward Christ’s return is frenzied then others will not take us seriously. We need to have a disciplined and watchful attitude in prayer that causes us to persevere regardless of Christ’s schedule of return.
Have you been diligent in prayer? Are you taking the time daily to pray to God and seek how God would direct you for each day? Are you praying for the salvation of those who need the Savior? Peter says that we need to be disciplined and watchful in prayer. How are you going to start? Begin to set aside some time each day to pray. Then as you learn to speak to the Lord on behalf of those around you increase your prayer time. Be diligent in prayer because God calls us to pray and not cease. Jesus spoke often of persevering in prayer. He said to keep on asking, keep on seeking and keep on knocking at the door of heaven and you will be heard. I have found this to be true in my life. Many of the “important” answers to prayer haven’t come in praying once or twice. Salvation for my family members came after more than seven years of consistent prayer. I can remember one instance of prayer for an individual to come to know Christ while I was in Minnesota. We had a booth at a local business fair where we would distribute literature and a drawing for a free Study Bible. I wanted one man in particular, who filled out a card, to get that Bible. He was the neighbor of one of the families in our church who needed Christ. I had been praying for his salvation and just the fact that he signed up for a Bible was amazing. And when we drew a name from the jar at our church his name was picked. I called and set up the time for me to deliver the Bible. I had planned to use the Bible to present Christ to him. But when I got there he opened the door took the Bible, said thanks and shut the door. Wow! I thought, well that didn’t work. But I continued to pray for him. Three years later (2 months before we left Minnesota to come here) I was at that same fair passing out Gospel information when a couple walked up to me. The gentleman said, “I don’t know if you remember me . . .” I looked at them and said, “You’re Jeff and Joni Evans. We gave a Bible to you three years ago.” Stunned, he asked how I remembered.” I told them, “Since that time I’ve been praying for you to come to know Jesus as your Savior.” Jeff said, “I came here to thank you for the Bible.” He then began to relate to me that he put the Bible on a shelf in his entryway for more than a year until his father died. He then began to pick it up and read it. From that he entered a men’s Bible study where he came to know the Lord. His wife gave similar testimony.
I know the power of being diligent in prayer not just because God said its effective but because I have experienced, time and time again, just what great things God accomplishes through prayer. So let me encourage you as Peter says, “Become watchful and diligent in prayer
2. Have Selfless Love toward One Another
The second way that Peter describes how we should conduct ourselves in view of Christ’s coming is that we are to have selfless love toward one another. In light of Jesus’ words that at the end, the love of many will turn cold, Peter says that especially in the difficulties of these last days we must persevere in showing love toward one another. The love that Peter mentions is a special love. This love is special for three reasons
A. It is God’s love
The first reason that this love is special is that it is God’s love. The Greeks had several words to describe love. This word love, “agape” was very limited in its use by the Greeks. But Jesus and the Apostles picked up the word and used in a completely new sense. This is the love that God is. 1 John 4 says, “God is agape (love).” Its source is God and it is described for us in seeing the depth of God’s action for us. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” This agape love is selfless. It always has the best interest of others in mind. It causes one to seek the highest good.
As you can see this love is supernatural. It is not something that can be conjured up by our own willpower or desire. Our own desires are selfish and corrupt. Yet Peter commands us to love one another with the love that God has for us. How can this be? How can we accomplish such a thing? You must realize that the only way you will ever be able to love one another with God’s love is by the power of the Spirit of God. And this is not impossible for the Christian. It is only possible for the Christian. Paul said in Romans that since the Spirit of God dwells in you, you have all the resources you need to live a life pleasing to God and accomplish His will. And that includes loving one another.
B. It is a fervent love
The second reason that this love is special is that it is a fervent love. The word that Peter uses here in telling us to love fervently is literally the word for being stretched out. This is a love that is both constant and intense. One commentator says that the term was used to describe a horse at full gallop. And we use a similar terminology when we say that someone was running flat out. It describes someone giving it all they’ve got.
Is this the love that you have for one another? Are you giving it all you’ve got? Peter says that we are to love each other fervently. Are you loving one another fervently like the athlete who is giving his all in the final race of a competition? This is how Peter says we are to love. It is a love that is stretched out for one another. Do you see yourself reaching out to others around you? Do you see others reaching out in this kind of love? Practice this kind of love and trust me you will see others practicing it as well.
Do you take time to help others in their walk as Christians? Do you see how you can meet their spiritual and physical needs? What are you doing as part of the body of Christ to show Christ’s love to those who need it? We need to show Christ’s love to those around us.
C. It is a covering love
The third reason that this love is special is that it is a covering love. Peter says, “Because love covers a multitude of sins.” Just what does Peter mean that love covers a multitude of sins? I think that this statement conveys two basic ideas. First, when we say that our love covers someone’s sin it means that we forgive that person. In other words, we do not allow someone’s sin to become a barrier to our fellowship with them. Whether that means we confront that person because of their sin against us or simply allow it to pass by. I think Peter says that if we can at all let it pass through our love for them then do so. But how do we know when to confront an individual or to let an offense simply pass by. There are some general guidelines but if this particular offense causes you to avoid that person then you must go to them. But the Bible says that we must go with the spirit of gentleness understanding that we are capable of the very same things. And we must likewise understand that we too might have committed some wrong in the matter as well. This is the second way that love covers a multitude of sin in that it helps another to overcome sin.
Galatians 6 speaks of this. It says that you should confront a brother or sister in Christ in their sin if they are caught in it. This doesn’t mean when you catch someone in a sin. It is speaking about someone being trapped (or caught) in a sinful pattern. If you see someone in a pattern of sin and they are not gaining victory over it then you should gently confront that person so that you might help them out. Because we may not see the whole picture of what God is doing in a person don’t be too hasty to jump in immediately. I would recommend praying for this individual so that you have both the right attitude in helping this person and the God given opportunity. Perhaps God won’t allow you to help this person but is already working through someone else or in some other way to help this person out of that sin. But our God given love for others ought to cover over their sin so that there is no division in the body.
This command from God is a call to love everyone. The verse says love one another not love every other. We don’t pick and choose those whom we will love and those whom we will not. That is why this kind of love must come from God and not through our own strength. Now please don’t say that there are some people that you are not going to love. If you say that there is someone who hurt you so much that you will not love him or her then you are simply saying that you are not going to obey God’s command to love one another. We caused Jesus an excruciating tormenting pain in His death on the cross yet He still loved us. Are you willing to let God love others through you or will you scoff at His own love for you? What is impossible for us in the flesh is possible supernaturally through the Spirit of God. God just wants you to be willing. Let Him take care of the details in showing love to others.
Peter says that the end is near. There is time for action but no time to waste. Don’t come to the end of your life and say, “I wish I had given more time to the Lord. I wish I had loved as He had commanded me.” Today is the only day we have. It is too late to neglect our business as Christians.
Perhaps you today have never come to know Jesus Christ as your Savior. You need to come to Him today. The Scripture says, “Today is the day of salvation now is the appointed time.” There is a sign I saw in a restaurant window, “Free meal tomorrow.” There is no other day that God gives us to be saved but today. If we say tomorrow, tomorrow will never come.
We have looked at two of four ways we should conduct ourselves as Christians in view of Christ’s return. Do not neglect your responsibility to pray. Do not miss the fact that we have no promise of tomorrow and that those for whom we need to pray today may be gone tomorrow. We need to have a controlled and sober view of our time here on earth. Don’t panic because Christ could return today. But also don’t become lackadaisical in your prayer life because Christ might not return in our lifetime. Be controlled, be sober and pray.
Also we need to show God’s love to one another. Stop putting it off but ask God to allow you to love as He loves. Allow Him to work in you the fruit of the Spirit that is love. God’s love covers a multitude of sins. Let us be joined in this body by love, which Paul calls in Colossians 3, the perfect bond of unity.