Focus Verse – 2 Peter 1:12
When I was a child, one of my favorite movies to watch was The Lion King. The epic battle between the good character (Mufasa) and the evil character (Scar) was captivating. When it seemed as if evil had prevailed, when Scar killed Mufasa, there was the birth of a new hope. Simba, the son of Mufasa, was the rightful heir to the throne and the beacon of light the other animals needed. They had been under the oppressive rule of Scar and longed for the return of a king who would lead like Mufasa had done. As Simba battled the inward challenges common to us all (doubt, identity, fear, etc.) he was established by the voice of his father who said: “Simba, remember who you are.” Simba later defeated Scar and reclaimed dominion within the animal kingdom.
As children of the living God, we tend to grow weary and disillusioned by the multiplied images and reports of the triumph of evil. For us to remain steadfast in the Lord, we need to remember who and whose we are. My family in Christ, let us remember these three things.
#1 This is not our home
In 1 Peter 2:11, the apostle Peter addressed the church as “…aliens and strangers…”. We must remember that this present world system, the style of government, the presence of diseases, the onslaught of disasters in nature (hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, etc.), is not our home. At first, this is our norm but after being reunited with our Creator and impressed with an unfolding knowledge of His nature and will, we gain a picture of a better world where the presence of darkness will not exist. This realization helps us to enjoy the gifts of this life but not to hold them so tightly that we become bitter when they pass. It also gives us the confidence to face death. David wrote in Psalm 119:19 “I am a stranger on the earth; do not hide Your commandments from me.” We long for the presence of God and cannot be at peace unless we are surrounded by Him. When we see the corrosion of this world becoming more evident and feel isolated because of our stand for righteousness, let’s remember that this is not our home.
#2 Conflict Is Necessary
In the book Mere Christianity, the author wrote: “Enemy-occupied territory – that is what this world is. Christianity is the story of how the rightful king has landed, you might say landed in disguise, and is calling us all to take part in a great campaign of sabotage.” Note the first three words in the quotation, “enemy-occupied territory”. We sometimes forget that the enemy of life and truth occupies this realm of the universe. The apostle John wrote in Revelation 12:12, “Therefore rejoice, O heavens and you who dwell in them. Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has come down to you in great wrath, knowing that he has only a short time!” The devil is the one who creates obstacles to prevent us from being healed from the sickness of sin. For us to overcome him, we must remember that conflict is necessary. He is attacking us; we need to learn to resist and attack him.
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33. There is no peace in circumstances, only in Christ. If our Saviour said we will have tribulation, then need to bear in mind that it is a part of our journey. Lord, teach us to fight according to your Spirit!
#3 God is with His People
Righteousness by trust in God is the only righteousness that heaven endorses. The Divine presence is our shield, but we need to remember that our heavenly Father is with us. It’s this trust that transforms us into faithful followers. The following further explains the point. “John and Charles Wesley, after being ordained to the ministry, were sent on a mission to America. On board the ship was a company of Moravians. Violent storms were encountered on the passage, and John Wesley, brought face to face with death, felt that he had not the assurance of peace with God. The Germans, on the contrary, manifested a calmness and trust to which he was a stranger.
“I had long before,” he says, “observed the great seriousness of their behaviour. Of their humility they had given a continual proof, by performing those servile offices for the other passengers which none of the English would undertake; for which they desired and would receive no pay, saying it was good for their proud hearts, and their loving Saviour had done more for them. And every day had given them an occasion of showing a meekness which no injury could move. If they were pushed, struck, or thrown about, they rose again and went away; but no complaint was found in their mouth. There was now an opportunity of trying to determine whether they were delivered from the spirit of fear, as well as from that of pride, anger, and revenge. Amid the psalm wherewith their service began, the sea broke over, split the mainsail in pieces, covered the ship, and poured in between the decks as if the great deep had already swallowed us up. A terrible screaming began among the English. The Germans calmly sang on. I asked one of them afterwards, ‘Were you not afraid?’ He answered, ‘I thank God, no.’ I asked, ‘But were not your women and children afraid?’ He replied mildly, ‘No; our women and children are not afraid to die.'”—Whitehead, Life of the Rev. John Wesley, page 10. Wow, what a witness! Knowing that God is with us gives us confidence in the storms of life.
As children of God, our greatest threat isn’t nuclear bombs or climate change. Our greatest threat is forgetting who and whose we are. May the Lord help us to remember.