Living Before the World

1 Peter 2:11

¹¹ Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 

Today is December 30th, the last but one day before the year 2022 closes. Pretty soon most of us will enter into the New Year 2023. The question we need to ask is that what will we do for God for letting us into year 2023. Peter addressed his epistle to the believers of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. Peter used the term pilgrims which means stranger or one who journeys in a foreign land.

Peter is pleading the believers in Christ, that the place where we live or work is not the permanent dwelling place of humans but those that have been saved, their dwelling place is with the Lord Jesus Christ. Wherever He is, there we are with Him in eternity. The book of Philippians 3:20 declares that our citizenship is in heaven. If our citizenship is in heaven then all the other places are foreign to us and so are the things of this world that we desire to acquire.

Every Christian believer has to abstain from the fleshly lusts of this world. These lusts will wage war against the soul. Let the New Year 2023’s resolution be to reject the fleshly lusts. The far we move away from the fleshly lusts, the closer we get to God. One cannot mix faith in God and the worldly desires. If you are filled with lust then you cannot have faith in God. Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

Every believer is on a serious mission to dwell with God in eternity. Do not look for short term fame or riches that does not last forever. Everyone born into this world has to leave this world when God calls them. Since we are born of God, let us prepare as sojourners and pilgrims abstain from the fleshly desires and focus on things pertaining to Lord Jesus Christ. May our Lord be with you!

In Jesus precious name! Amen.

Maranatha!