The Colors of God’s Grace

Asdov/o3 <norhkin Zanazan Co3nyru

 

1 Peter 4:7-11

 

It is the Sunday of the famous Super Bowl game.  I love football, and I hope it will be a good game without injuries.  But just take a look around you and you will see that this game has become more than a sport.  Super Bowl is like a new “god” for many.  For advertisement companies it is an opportunity to sell and make more money; for NFL it is more than sport, again making big money; for TV stations it is the time to get more viewers hooked to the screens; and for viewers… we pay to all these companies and organizations.  The cost of a 30-second spot on Super Bowl in 1967 was $42,500 on CBS and $37,500 on NBC.  In 2006 the cost of a 30-second ad was $2.5 million.  For this year, a 30-second ad costs $3.01 million. What is going on?

At the end, it is a lifestyle we choose.  We choose to pay $3.01 million for 30 seconds.

 

Peter is also describing what the lifestyle of the First Century Christians in Asia Minor should be like. They were a suffering church.  They were facing political, social and spiritual trials every day.  Yet there is an end to everything.

 

Peter says: “The end of all things is near.” (7)

Jesus taught the disciples that there is a Biblical order in the history of salvation. Starting from the prophets, they were telling about the coming of the Messiah.  Then Jesus was born, crucified, resurrected and ascended to heaven. Soon after that the Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost.  After these main events one event is left, the Second Coming of Jesus. The days we live now, between Pentecost and the Second Coming of Christ, are the end times. Meanwhile, Peter explains, that until the Second Coming of Jesus (the end of all things) our lifestyle should be full of prayer and love.

 

What does it mean that end of all things is at hand, or near?

There is a judgment day.  God is going to judge the living and the dead.  In the context of chapter 4, we find Peter is bringing this topic again and again.  There is an end to everything, and the Second Coming is near.

The misleading part is the word near.  What does “near” mean? Tomorrow? Next month?

Looking at the context of Peter, let me quote from 2nd Peter 3:8-9.

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

 

 “Near” may mean tomorrow or another thousand years.  I don’t know, because if one continues reading 2nd Peter, the author indicates that the Lord will come like a thief (3:10). That means “Just be ready, the Lord can return any time.”

What would you do if you knew Christ would return tomorrow?

You would probably go and start praying, repenting of your sins, telling your loved ones about Him, etc…

 

Why God is delaying the Coming of Jesus?  I don’t know, but His mercy and patience are a few of the reasons.  Which means we have responsibility to share the Good News.  You see for me judgment day is a joyful day, and it was also for the Christians of Asia Minor.  Now that I have back pain and am agonizing with pain, I hope today is the day that the Lord returns.  Peter is saying, “Do not panic; I know you are suffering, there is an end for everything, meanwhile you have lifestyle to work on.”  Two important ideas he shares, pray and love.

 

We will continue in English.