Maintain Urgency and Moral Purity

"Hence, beloved ones,"  Peter continues,  "since you are awaiting these things, do your utmost to be found finally by him spotless and unblemished and in peace.  Furthermore, consider the patience of our Lord as salvation."  Waiting with eager anticipation and viewing any seeming delay of Jehovah's day as an expression of divine patience will help us avoid any spiritual spot or blemish.  Yet, there is danger! Peter warns that in the writings  of "our beloved brother Paul . . . are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unsteady are twisting, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction." -2 Peter 3:14-16.

False teachers evidently twisted Paul's writings about God's undeserved kindness, using them as an excuse for loose conduct.  Perhaps Peter had this in mind when he writes his parting admonition:  "You, therefore, beloved ones, having this advance knowledge, be on your guard that you may not be led away with them by the error of the law-defying people and fall from your own steadfastness."  He then concludes his letter, urging:  "Go on growing in the undeserved kindness and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." -2 Peter 3:17, 18.

Clearly, Peter wants us to strengthen his brothers.  He desires all to have the attitude expressed by the faithful 82-year-old Witness quoted at the outset:  "I have lived my life as the apostle urged, 'keeping close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah.'  I have always viewed the promised new world as a 'reality though not beheld.' " May we all live our life in the same way.

Next time: VANDALISM - Why?

THE WATCHTOWER, 1997