Living In Reality

This morning I am reading from Peter's first letter, and as almost always, I have found something to ponder. Here are the verses - 1 Peter 1:13-17 NIV:

[13] "Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming. [14] As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. [15] But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; [16] for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

[17] Since you call on a Father who judges each person’s work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear."

Starting at the end and working forward, the whole idea that if we have an eternal mindset, then our time here is really a time away from our home which is found in Heaven. We are all visitors here - to quote the Eagles - foreigners whose home now is found in Christ. That is a difficult mindset shift to make, as we are so here and now focused. In a way, the history of Israel really provides insight into this reality. When they were taken into exile in Babylon, they never stopped thinking about and desiring to move back to the promised land. They lived in Babylon, but yearned for their home. We must learn to allow ourselves a similar mindset concerning our eternal inheritance, the difference is that we are not slaves but free and redeemed.

Secondly we are called to live in reverent fear. The Greek word is actually Phobos, which is where we get our word phobia. However in the case the meaning as to do with awe, and understanding our true place and reality. We are called to live as if we were in God's presence now. This is where that eternal mindset is supposed to help us, as we come to understand this reality of eternal life is not necessarily or only a time based reality, but rather a Spiritual Kingdom reality. We really ARE in His presence when we were hidden in Christ. This is why Peter urges us to live like we are already in front of the very throne of God.

Stepping further back in these verses, that is why Peter says we should be holy as God is holy. The Greek word used here is the same word used to describe the Holy of Holies, which is where the Lord manifested His presence. To say it differently, we are called to bear the manifest presence of God. We are called to allow His compassion, mercy, faithfulness and love to flow out of us. We are also called to be conduits of His power, producing signs, wonders, healings, miracles and the like. This what one experiences in God's presence. They experience reverent fear in His presence as well.

So our call, our invitation is to conform our lives to this eternal reality, rather than allowing the sinful desires and thinking to permeate our lives. It is really an amazing job of marketing that the enemy has done to convince us that living a Godly, holy life is boring or dull. That we would ever look upon the short-termed excitement that our evil desires promise us when compared to the glories of unity with Christ Jesus is almost inconceivable! Yet we continue to struggle and battle choosing to live in ignorance, or more pointedly, ignoring the truth. Ignoring the truth doesn't make it less true, it just causes our hearts to become harder and more resistant to the truth.

So let us examine our lives, see our reality for what it is, namely that we are in the very presence of God. Let us view ourselves soberly, making good decisions about how we will live out our life, allowing the very presence of God to dwell with us and within us. Let us live our lives in such a way that we allow God's presence to flow out of us to impact our families, our jobs, our schools and our communities.