“Wherefore, I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them, and be established in the present truth. Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance—knowing that shortly I must put off this, my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ has showed me.”
II Peter 1:12-14
When we “redeem the time” (Eph. 5:16; Col. 4:5), we realize our lives here on earth are short at best (James 4:13-15) and we should invest them in eternity by exhorting and edifying others in all we say and do.
Peter knew his remaining time here on earth was short. Although he didn’t quite understand Jesus’ words that morning on the seashore when He appeared to them after His Resurrection (Jn. 21:18-19), by the time he wrote today’s Manna, he knew it’d not be long until he saw his Master once again.
Thus, as a loving parent writing a farewell note to his children, the former, salty-tongued sailor penned these words to remind them of what they’d learned—and to “stir them up” (Grk. “diegeiro”), i.e., “wake them up, rouse from sleep, raise up, etc.” He knew difficult times were coming and it was important for them to “give all diligence by adding to their faith and making sure their calling and God’s election” (vv.5, 10).
Is not this also needed today, dear Pilgrim?
Assuredly it is.
Peter knew that many would arise after his demise, bringing with them “cunningly devised fables” (v.16). He still remembered Jesus’ words that day on the Mount of Olives when He warned them (and us) about those “false prophets who would come in His Name, saying ‘I am Christ’ and deceive many” (Mt. 24:5, 11).
That’s why he said “I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of those things which you’ve been taught and upon which you’ve been established.” And, that’s why he said “So long as I’m still in this ‘ole body of clay I’m going to do everything I can to rouse you from spiritual complacency lest you fall prey to the cleverly-designed lies of the devil.”
What a loving purpose and objective!
And, again, how we need such “stirring up” in these last days!
Now, as never before, we need men and women of God to stand up and be counted! We need preachers/pastors who’ll passionately proclaim “Thus saith the Lord” from their holy pulpits and, as someone said, to “preach as dying men to dying men.” We need holy teachers who’ll faithfully teach the Way of Salvation to others and instruct them in the Way of Righteousness.
Too often we get stirred up about the wrong things—things that won’t matter in eternity.
May the Holy Spirit help us to be so stirred up by His Word and the lostness of our world that we cannot rest until all men know Christ. Woe to those who profess to be followers of Christ, yet are unmoved by the millions who are on their road to an eternity in hell. “Stir us up, O Lord. And, help us to do what we can to stir up others as well.”
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated October 19, 2010
