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Christ supplies. There is no place for equilibrium or inertia, either we go forward in
fulfillment or retreat into that area of waste and blindness that verse 9 envisages.
No.3.
1: 10 - 2: 2.
pp. 238 - 240
"Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election
sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: for so an entrance shall be ministered
unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ"
(1: 10, 11).
The Jews here had a hope and a calling to which they were exhorted to be diligent and
make their election sure. The world about us is a constant snare, whispering there is
plenty of time later on for things of the spirit, giving a false urgency to the affairs of the
world. Martha (Luke 10:) was gently corrected by our Lord for this tendency to make the
wrong choice. An athlete disciplines his life for months and perhaps years before the
event which is his goal. It is today and every day we should go into training for the
Lord's use.
"Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things,
though ye 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 hath showed
me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things
always in remembrance" (1: 12-15).
Peter was exceedingly anxious that his ministry should bear fruit. He was fearful that
the seed might not fall on good ground and that the birds of the air (those of the evil one)
would snatch it away. Paul had the same tragic premonitions before his departure:
"Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us
for an ensample. (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even
weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ . . . . .)" (Phil. 3: 17, 18).
We need a constant rehearsal of the tenets of our faith, a fresh examination of the
Word of truth for in this way the Holy Spirit can speak to us of some element lacking in
our lives, some doctrine He would have us emphasize to others. When this is done how
often we find things we have forgotten or misunderstood.
Peter is now going to turn his attention to the Word of God itself which, for Peter, was
in those days the Lord Jesus Christ, His words and also the O.T. A ministry that has as
its aim to lead men to know and worship God, must teach from, and accept, that the Bible
is the Word of God and therefore truth. Peter is going to witness to the origin of this
record of truth.
"For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you
the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of His majesty.