12-16: It makes sense, coming on the heels of Peter's exhortation to living outward focused lives, for him to switch gears, and encourage us to not be shocked when we are persecuted. The world's fundamental disposition toward grace is revulsion. They can't imagine a life not focused on one's own needs. It is suicidal to consider the needs of others as more important than your own. Why, they say, that might lead to personal discomfort, or letting go of the niceties we have come to feel entitled to. Niceties such as designer clothes, or more expensive cars, or even cable TV. After all, we've worked hard. We deserve some comforts in this life. Caring for others is alright in its way, but what do we get out of it? Is it tax deductible? Against this grain of thought grace cuts deep. So deep it hurts. The world sees it and rebels against it. Doing something not necessarily beneficial to self, for the sake of Someone you can't even see, is complete nonsense to the natural man. And so, when this becomes our life code, those around us will balk, then laugh, and finally shun. Therefore don't be surprised when it happens, Peter tells us. Don't look for a different outcome. You knew this was coming, in other words. Its part of what we signed up for. The Christian life of grace is so antithetical to everything the world stands for that friction is a necessary byproduct.
Furthermore, this friction is not only necessary but healthy. If nothing in our lives ever causes an unbeliever to feel awkward or resentful or just plain mad, barring our own sin of course, then it would do well for us to check our own position. If we are Christians, then we have been pulled out of death, and placed into life. As living, breathing examples of Holy Spirit filled life walking in the shadows of death, we should stand out like sore thumbs. If not, if you blend in with the shadowy surroundings, it's possible that you have not cast yourself on the mercy of Christ. If that is true, do so now. I'll gladly wait.
This is what Peter is speaking of when he talks about our faith being 'put to the proof.' When the cup is shaken, what spills out? When the sponge is squeezed, what liquid escapes? Is the sponge of your life soaked in the lifeblood of Jesus? Does grace gush out when you are squeezed? This is our faith being put to the test. Not so that we will despair at our sin. Rather, we are shown our sin so that the Father can scrape it off the top. We are being purified in this life. The dross of our sin is rising to the surface as we undergo the painful heat of tribulation, and the cold fire of suffering. It is precisely for this reason that Paul counts all the pains and hardships of this life as 'momentary light afflictions.' After darkness, light. After winter, spring.
More than this, suffering for righteousness sake is our glory. For if we suffer for our faith, and in our faith, we suffer with Jesus. We are united to Him in the Garden. His blood sweat becomes our own. He identifies with us, and allows us to participate with Him in suffering in this world. For if we suffer with Him in this world, we will be glorified with Him in the next. Therefore rejoice! Dance, Sing! Sing a song of joy! Our graves will lie abandoned. Our tombs, like His, will be empty.
So laugh when you are insulted. When someone throws the name 'Christian' in your face with the intent to make you ashamed, or to make you feel stupid, laugh. Not for spite, but simply for joy, for it means the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. Therefore glorify God with your laughter. Honor Jesus with your joy. To be named a Christian by the onlooking world is a great honor, and should be seen as a sign of heading in the right direction. It is the same lifestyle that will cause the ones God is drawing to Himself to ask you about the hope within you. If you by your faithful and loving life of grace are not drawing scorn from the hateful and spiteful world, you will not be drawing searching questions from those God is bringing to Himself. It must remembered of course, we are to live quiet and peaceable lives, seeking peace with all men as far as it depends on us. But if we live in obedience to God first, and man second, some men will necessarily be disobeyed, and that will not sit well with them. And so we find the great chasm that separates the City of God and City of Man. In this way we show our allegiance. In this way we honor our King.
No comments:
Post a Comment