Week 51 2 Peter 1
Let’s say I start out as a guy who dislikes Jesus. Distains him. Disregards him. But then I start changing my mind. Eventually I decide to follow him. It’s a big crossroad for me. What happens now?
On a very simple & non-specific level the answer is that there are two main developmental categories. There are visible & observable things. And there are more covert internal things.
The external level of obvious & seeable things might for instance be that I start going to church.
But Peter isn’t talking here about the visible things. He says:
God has given us his very great and precious promises,
so that through them you may participate in the divine nature,
having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
When I start following the Lord I get promises. Guarantees. Peter doesn’t say how many and he doesn’t specify what they are. But what he does do is mention two invisible follow-ups – internal things.
Invisible Follow-Up #1: I get to share in the Lord’s nature. Before I started following the Lord I had my own nature and it’s what I made-do with. But now I get a boost by sharing in a better nature.
Invisible Follow-Up #2: I get a chance to escape from the world’s corruption. Prior to believing I’m locked-down in my own sorry & corrupted world. It’s all I’ve got. No Exit Visa. But with Christ I can start to expand my horizon.
So…two pretty important invisible developments.
Note: quote from 2 Peter 1:4 (NIV)