In the previous devotional, I talked about how the future is beautiful. Yes, there can be ugliness in our world, but it won’t always be this way.
This is partly based on passages like 2 Peter 3:13 where the apostle says this: “But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
It is a place of perfect righteousness since we bask in the perfect righteousness of God. Everyone will be living rightly before God and others. It will be an existence of fellowship with God, peace among people, and glorious joy. Further, there will be no pain, tears, suffering or sin.
With all this in mind, how are we supposed to live in the here and now? Peter uses two specific words: holiness and godliness (verse 11).
Holiness is simply being set apart (i.e. distinct) for God’s special purposes. Godliness is about reflecting God’s character; it’s being Christlike.
Oh, and you can live like this among your friends, family, at work or school, and in the wider community.
Here’s just one example. It’s an email that a public school teacher sent to some friends:
“I’m asking for your prayers for my students. I know everyone is busy, but if you ever can, I know there is power in specifically addressed prayers. Please pray for Randy (smartest boy in my class—mom speaks no English—just moved from Washington—blind in his right eye because he poked his eye with a sharp tool when he was three).
“Henry (learning disabled—tries with all his little heart—it takes him about a minute to say two words—I think he’s used to me now, but it was hard for him to keep up at first!)…
“Anna (learning disability—neither parent can read, write, or drive—they have four children!!! who knows how they keep it together—colors me a picture every single day, writes her spelling sentences about me, I’m the main character in her stories.”*
As that teacher and her friends pray for her students, and she does her best with them, that is reflection of godly character as we await the return of Jesus.
The same can be true for you in your own context.
Let’s live in a way that anticipates that great and glorious day when the light of Jesus radiates throughout every inch of creation, and which foreshadows the true and everlasting beauty that is to come.
Notes:
-“The Future is Beautiful.” Click here. Sermon.
-*Told in: Max Lucado: Cure for the Common Life (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2005), 98-99
-Bible quotes, ESV.
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