WHAT MANNER OF PERSONS OUGHT YE TO BE?
USA
“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, looking for and basting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” 2 Peter 3:10-12
There is indeed a great and terrible day coming, as described here. Christ is returning to receive us unto Himself. He will dissolve that which now is, down to the very molecular structure of the elements, and He will make all things new. He will take the Throne of His father David and rule over the House of Jacob forever and of His Kingdom, there shall be no end. This is as sure as the law of gravity and as reliable as night turning to day. What manner of persons, then, ought we to be as we see this day approaching?
Be ye HOLY
“Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the Lord your God.” Leviticus 20:7
To be holy is to be set apart, to be separate from the world. It is to die to ourselves and to live for Christ. This is an elementary teaching, yet so few follow after holiness.
Dear reader, have you separated yourself from worldly ways? Is your heart set on heaven above or on the pleasures of this world? As God’s people, seek the Kingdom of God and His righteousness above all else. God will see that you are taken care of.
We read in Hebrews 12:14, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Do you want to see the LORD? Separate yourselves from worldly ways and seek to be holy.
Be ye SOBER
“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober and watch unto prayer.” 1 Peter 4:7
The word sober is usually associated with drunkenness, or, more specifically, the lack thereof, but here means to be alert, aware and of a sound mind. Dear friends, this is so important in this dark and evil day. We must be aware of what is going on, tend to that which is needful and guard ourselves. So many today are completely oblivious to the designs of the enemy, but my dear kinsmen we must not be so. We must be aware and alert, so that we will not be taken in the snares that the enemy has laid for us.
“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” 1 Peter 5:8-9
“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” 1 Thessalonians 5:6
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16
Be Ye FOLLOWERS OF GOD
“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.” Ephesians 5:1
The meaning here is that we ought to try to be like Him. He is our father and we are His children. As a child may be often found imitating his father by wearing his shoes or assuming his stance or mimicking his manner of speech – not out of disrespect, but out of admiration and a desire to be like his father – so ought we to desire to imitate our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as best we can in all our actions, words, spirit and thoughts.
Adam Clarke wrote, “It is natural for children to imitate their parents; it is their constant aim to learn of them, and to copy them in all things; whatever they see the parent do, whatever they hear him speak, that they endeavor to copy and imitate; yea, they go farther, they insensibly copy the very tempers of their parents. If ye therefore be children of God, show this love to your heavenly Father, and imitate all his moral perfections, and acquire the mind that was in Jesus.”
He, of course, refers to Philippians 2:5-8, which says, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
Humility is vitally important to our health, happiness and success as Christians, and it is the first instruction given in 2 Chronicles 7:14, where God gives His people the recipe for national restoration …
“If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Be ye STRONG and of a GOOD COURAGE in the LORD
“Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Joshua 1:9
If there were ever a day when God’s people need to be strong and of a good courage, it is in this dark and evil day. The enemies of God, and of our people, are many and they are becoming more bold than ever before in their advances against us. But we must remember that we are servants of the Most High God, and “If God be for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31
Press on, champions of the King! Fear not! God is with His people, and we shall not be moved.
“He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?” Romans 8:32
Faint not! Joy cometh in the morning!
Be ye READY
“Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.” Luke 12:40
Dear reader, are you ready? When our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ returns in power and great glory, will you be among those who will rejoice at His appearing? Will your heart be filled with joy? Will it be your greatest day? Or will you be one of those who will cry out to the mountains and hills, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb? For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?”
I pray we are all ready for that day, for the time is short. Come to the Saviour and trust in His grace. Give to Him your all, for He has given all for you.
“The God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 5:10-11
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