“By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.” 2 Peter 1:3-4 (NLT)
Years ago, I listened to a wise Catholic priest teach about life and death. He talked about a baby carried in the womb is fed by the mother, held tightly and is kept warm while being prepared to enter another world that he know nothing about. Then, at the proper time he is pushed out into a cold, unfamiliar world to which he is fully equipped to function. The man was preaching at a funeral and compared our lives today as a preparation for the next phase of our existence which we have been given the power to choose life or death.
“Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” Deuteronomy 30:19 (NLT)
“Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (NLT)
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too.” 1 John 5:1 (NLT)
“And this is what God has testified: He has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have God’s Son does not have life. I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God; so that you may know you have eternal life.” 1 John 5:11-13
“Now, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God—his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:7-9 (NLT)
When we choose life (Jesus) we can begin to grow and develop much like the baby in the mother’s womb and are being fully equipped to function in our daily lives, as well as the next phase of our existence. 2 Peter 1:5-11 talks about this growth and development. I encourage you to prayerfully read, study and apply these passages to your life. The last verse 2 Peter 1:11 really intrigued me as the result of our choices.
“Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” 2 Peter 1:11 (NLT)
I began to consider what this could possibly entail and many ideas came to mind. I thought about a prestigious banquet where each person entering is announced, arrayed in beautiful garments and escorted to an extravagantly prepared banquet table. The table is adorned with elegant décor and gifts specifically selected for the person assigned to that setting. The best part of the whole banquet is that we can dine with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords himself. This is probably a trivial expression of the marriage supper of the Lamb which will be beyond our wildest dreams.
The love of God passes knowledge but He will freely reveal His love to those who seek this treasure beyond comprehension.
“He chose to give birth to us by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his prized possession.” James 1:18 (NLT)
God created us to fellowship with him because of his great love for us. Take some time to think about this great love that God loved us so much that he gave his only begotten Son that we might live with him forever because we are his prized possession!
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