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"We
Have Spent Enough"
In the midst of his first epistle, Peter exhorted Christians to be of
the “mind” that no longer seeks to satisfy “the lusts of men” but that
desires to fulfill the “will of God.” He then went on to say, “For we
have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the
Gentiles--” (1 Peter 4:2,3).
Of a truth, we all have “spent enough of our past lifetime” in
doing so. Why would any Christian long to go back to such a life?
We have all “spent enough of our past lifetime” in serving
the god of this
world (Satan) rather than serving Jehovah God. In our dark
past we served the devil, being slaves of sin (Romans 6:17). But God be
thanked that “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and
translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Colossians
1:13). How could we think of serving again the being that wants to
destroy us? (1 Peter 5:8)
We have all “spent enough of our past lifetime” in adding
our wicked influence to an already wicked
world. By our past life we told the world, “I’m with you.” Along with
our comrades in sin we did our part in making the world unsavory to God.
What a despicable life. But God be thanked that He, “even when we were
dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ...” (Ephesians
1:5). Leaving that past life we are now to be the “salt of the earth,”
that which makes the world palatable to God (Matthew 5:13). How could we
think of once again being “conformed to this world”? (Romans 12:2)
We have all “spent enough of our past lifetime” being
a bad example to our families and friends. But
now as children of God we are afforded the opportunity to influence for
good these who are the closest to us! By our example we can bring up our
children “in the training and admonition of the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). By our
example we can affect our marriage partner for the spiritual good (1
Peter 3:1-7). But alas, far too many baptized “believers” have turned to
a life of unfaithfulness, a life that is saying the wrong things to
those nearest and dearest to them. Some former Christians need to wake
up and heed Peter’s words: WE HAVE SPENT ENOUGH OF OUR PAST LIFETIME in
being such an example! Why would any right-thinking person want to go
back to a life that leads “loved ones” toward hell? “Woe to the world
because of offenses! For offenses must come, but woe to that man by whom
the offense comes!” (Matthew 18:7)
One minute in Satan’s service, in adding our wicked influence, in
being a bad example, IS TOO LONG! Do recognize that all one day “will
give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead” (1
Peter 4:5).
--Mike Noble
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