Be diligent
''Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless (KJV) II Peter 3:14
Simon Peter, a bondservant, and apostle of Jesus Christ, in his epistle to the strangers or pilgrims scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit.
He admonishes the saints and draws their attention to the coming of the Lord (II Peter 3:10). Close emphasis was placed on their work with care and efforts since there is the promise which is eternal life.
Christianity has existed since the first century and the genuine beliefs or faith that the early brethren held to/ traditions (II Thessalonians 2:15), cannot be tampered with or adulterated. We should not defy the fact that Christianity is ordered under a definite pattern. We are therefore not the first race to have believed and so we should not let our emotions and opinions infuse Christianity.
To attain the promise that we all look up for, we must:
- Cloth ourselves with the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11) so as to be able to stand against the wiles of the devil,
- Do not forsake the assembly of the saints (Hebrews 10:25),
- Say “No” to the devil's enticement and be firm with our stance girding up the loins of our mind,
- Do not be deceived by temporal pleasures of the world, thus flee from sinful ways (I John 2:15)
- Avail ourselves to be used by the church (II Timothy 2:2-3; II Timothy 2:15).
These among several other noble and good deeds coupled with adherence to the doctrine of Christ would lead us safely to the goal, the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
The words of a famous songwriter bring to mind and keep us vigilant as these are axiomatic with no ambiguity:
“Someday you’ll stand at the bar on high,
Someday your record you’ll see;
Someday you’ll answer the question of life.
What will your answer be?”
“Sadly you’ll stand if you’re unprepared,
Trembling you’ll fall on your knee;
Facing the sentence of life or of death,
What will that sentence be?”
May God help us to be diligent so as to rejoice at His coming. Amen.