DID YOU KNOW that your choice in life determine your destiny? (Hebrew 11: 24-25). Says. "By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pressures of sin for a short time." when he came to the fork in the road, why did Moses choose the less traveled path? He knew that he would find God's presence in the midst of God's people.
Read (1Peter 4:3-5). "For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentile, when we walked in Laciviousness, lust excess of wine, revelling, banquetings, and abommable, idolatries wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of it. Speaking evil of you: Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead. "Let's take closer look at the text.
First, Peter tells the saint that, before they obey christ look we christian are call saint if you're follower of faith. They had spend enough time living a sinful life: "For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles...see the star walk not a Gentile. We would say, you've had enough of that kind of life already and you don't need to go back to it!
This rebuke to ourselves as s strong reminder to all Christians that there is a special way, we are to live our lives; and it certainly is not in the pursuit of sinful passion in which we indulged ourselves before.
Apostle Peter then list six sins which characterize this former way of life so that there is no mistakingly what he is talking about.
Lasciviousness refers to sensuality (NASB) or lack of restraint (vine's expository dictionary of new testament words). Lusts refers to evil desires in context excess of wine is a clear picture of drunkenness. Revelling are uninvited carousels and banquetings are drinking parties. Abominable idolatries would include any unlawful conduct associated with pagan idolatry.
As we can see, the nature of sin has not changed through the centuries, these six sins enumerated by the apostle paint picture of men who have given themselves over to wantonness and unrestrained passion. It might have been pagan festivals in their day. It might have been wine in the first century, it might have been a drunken feast in Peter's day and a beer burst in ours present day..it might have been a pagan brawls of sin. But gives it amount to the same thing. A sinful course of life! Reminders, "You certainly don't need to spend anymore time engaged in that type of behavior!"
Of course, when the rest of the world sees that we do not engage in these popular, but sinful activities, they will be suprised." wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you."
Since you are not with them, you must be against them, or participate in their activity you will be labeled as narrow-minded, extremist bigoted, judgmental prudish, unfriendly; and anti-social. The unregenerated sinner will not understand your reason for rehaving as you do, and, therefore, will ridicule your conduct. He will judge you by his own flawed standard of behavior those who refuse to obey the gospel, however will be judge just as certainly as they have judge christians...who shall give account to Him that is ready to judge the quick and dead" (v. 5).
Here is sobering reminder that there will be a final day of reckoning. God will judge each man's life. The quick and the dead is a phrase which indicates the universality of judgment all men, whether living or dead, must answer for their conduct. As in (2Corinthians 5:10). Remind us. "For me, all must appear before the judgment seat of Christ the Lord; that everyone may received the things done in His body, accordingly that he hath done.
Whether it be good or bad." the Christian, who has lived in faithful obedience to God's word, anticipates that day with great joy. The untepentant sinner has no such hope.
1 peter 4:3-4, then is a powerful reminder to each one of us to remain faithful in our service to God regardless of the enticement of the world or the sting of persecution. We know the consequences of sin, and we dare not spend a single day pursuing it as other do, yes, men will malign us and "say all manner of evil" against us.
(Matthew 5:11). Because we do not behave as they do, but we have heaven in mind the unregenerated sinner neglects the certainty of judgment in which he will have to give an accounting of his life. Better to endure the ridicule of the world than the disappointment of our heavenly Father!
When you have to make a decision, think through the implication attached to your choice. How do you think you will feel five years from now? What are the consquences of what you are about to do? Don't be blind to the reality that ultimately will confront you.
When you are to faced with a decision, remember God promises wisdom to the one who ask for it. "if any of you lacks wisdom," says James 1:5, "he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding faults, and it will be given to him." That means pray, and be willing to say, "Yes, that's what I will choose to do." Courage and strength come to the one who has made up his mind ahead of time that he will do God's will.
Its the little everyday decisions to do right that gives you strength. Those little decisions are the mortal that the house of your life is build with.
"Nothing would be worse than declaring victory before the victory has been won. April 11, 2020 improvement day
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