What to Do Till Jesus Comes

1 Peter 1:13-17

Introduction

Jesus is coming again. Just as certainly as He came the first time He is coming the second time. Jesus said "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also" (John 14:3). At the ascension of Jesus the disciples were told "Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven" (Acts 1:11). Paul said, "For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). The writer of the book of Hebrews wrote, "So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many: and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation" (Hebrews 9:28). In the last book and the last chapter of the Bible Jesus said, "Surely I come quickly" (Revelation 22:20a).

Second coming truth is a prominent part of the New Testament

It has been pointed out that second coming truth averages one out of every three verses in the New Testament. So much is said about it because it is so important, and because there is a great tendency to lose sight of it.

In the passage before us Peter speaks of the second advent as "the revelation of Jesus Christ" (v. 13c). He was revealed to Adam and Eve in Genesis 3:15; to Abraham (John 8:56); in the tabernacle and its services; by the prophetic writings; in human form; at the mount of transfiguration; at Patmos; and in the preaching of the gospel. However, a time is yet to come when He shall be revealed as never before: He shall be revealed in all His majesty and glory (Compare 2 Thessalonians 1:7,8).

At that day grace "is to be brought" (v. 13c) unto us. Grace and glory are sometimes synonymous in Scripture. Grace is glory begun, glory is grace finished. The idea conveyed by these words is that this future event is now in the process of becoming a reality. It is being brought to us right now. It is on the way! It is the grace of a perfected salvation, a liberated creation, and a glorified Church.

But what are we to do until then? The song writer says, "Well Work Till Jesus Comes." We need to work. We have so little time to do it. There is so much to do. Besides, there are so few who are willing to help.

Jesus said "Watch and pray" (Mark 13:13). He also said, "Occupy till I come" (Luke 19:13). Peter has some very practical suggestions as to what to do till Jesus comes. They are found in verses 13-17. He begins with our minds, what we ought to think, and says, Let your

I. Thinking Be Clear

"Wherefore gird up the loins of your minds" (v. 13a).

The word wherefore looks back to the preceding verses and draws a conclusion based on them. In view of the foreknowledge of God, the sanctification of the Spirit, the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus, a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, an incorruptible inheritance, the power of God, the trial of faith, and the desire of angels, Peter tells us to "gird up the loins of your mind."

In those days men wore long, flowing robes with a broad belt around the waist. This attire hindered quick movements, or strenuous activity. When it was necessary to work hard, or move fast, men pulled up their robes, and tucked them into their belts. The first reference to girding the loins is in Exodus 12:11, on the night of the Passover. In the 13th chapter of John’s gospel we are told how Jesus took a towel and girded Himself. Peter’s use of the word does not refer to the physical, but mental activity. By his use of the word he was telling his readers he wanted them to do some hard thinking.

Clear thinking comes when the mind of Christ controls us

Adding force to his words, he said, "Be sober" Peter was saying to his readers, "Be solid, steadfast in mind. Steer clear of intoxicating thoughts. Exercise sound, balanced judgment. Maintain the steadiness of a man who knows what he believes. Be calm, collected and clear in your thinking."

The words gird up refer to a once-for-all act. We must forever put out of the way things that hinder the free expression of our minds in response to the Word of God. This is something we have to do. It is the God-expected obligation of every believer.

What we think determines what we do. With so much to upset the mind, there is one positive, constructive thing we can do till Jesus comes. We can be clear in our thinking.

The second thing Peter tells us to do is to hold on to hope. He said, Let your

II. Trust Persevere

"and hope to the end" (v. 13b).

It has been said, "Faith respects the certainty of the promise, hope the accomplishment of it." Hope is the anchor of the soul to keep us secure in a storm-tossed world. Our hope is a living hope (v. 3). Our hope is a blessed hope (Titus 2:13).

Hope holds on when it is held up by the second coming of Christ

The word end means "completely, finally." It is a onetime act which never lets go. Christian hope endures, and it is the second thing we can do till Jesus comes. Keep on trusting, no matter what. Don’t let anything make you lose your grip on hope. Let your trust persevere.

Consider a third thing Peter tells us to do. He said, Let your

III. Titles Be Dear

"as obedient children" (v. 14a).

Childhood and obedience go together. Though children sometimes disobey, the relationship between parent and child is characterized by obedience. Obedience is what is expected of children.

As obedient children we are contrasted with the children of disobedience (Compare Ephesians 5:6). Parents are judged by the behavior of their children. Disobedient children cause embarrassing questions. In addition, they are chastised (Compare Hebrews 12:5-11).

God expects obedience from His children

Samuel told king Saul it was better to obey than to sacrifice (Compare 1 Samuel 15:22). Jesus set the example for obedience (Compare John 8:29; Philippians 2:8). One of the best things a child of God can do till the coming of the Lord is behave himself.

A small boy, who was visiting his aunt during his summer vacation, was sent to church alone one Sunday because she was sick and couldn’t go with him. Knowing how he could act at times, she cautioned him to be a good boy. When he returned she asked him if he had behaved himself. He answered, "I certainly did. I heard the lady who sat behind me say, ‘I never saw a child behave so!"

A fourth thing is mentioned by Peter. He said, Let your

IV. Tendencies Disappear

"not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance" (v. 14b).

The word fashioning means "to assume an outward appearance which is not representative of one’s character." The word lusts means any craving, or desire which is very strong. By the use of these particular words Peter spoke of the necessity of the right kind of living before a lost world. Though they were Christians they were not acting like it.

The saved ought to act saved

The tendency of life in the flesh is toward evil. Life in the Spirit gives us victory over the tendencies of the flesh. What can we do till Jesus comes? We can let our tendencies disappear.

They will not totally disappear until the glorification of the body at the coming of the Lord, but they should become less and less as we grow in grace. Peter tells us, "Let the world see less and less of what you have been, and more and more of what you are. Don’t show them what you used to be, show them what you have become!"

There is a fifth thing which Peter tells us to do in this passage. He said, Let your

V. Testimony Adhere

"But as he that hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy" (vv. 15, 16).

The word holy does not suggest sinless perfection. It does not mean eradication of the old nature, or a second blessing. It means "set apart." It is conformity to the mind and will of God, and it is God’s will for you and me. We are called to holiness by the gospel (Compare 1 Thessalonians 4.7). It was to this end that Christ died (Compare Titus 2:14). According to Ephesians 4:24 we are created in Christ to be holy.

Without holiness we cannot belong to the Lord, enjoy Him, or be with Him in heaven. The cry for holiness is heard throughout the Bible. It is the keynote of Leviticus, from which Peter quotes as he makes his appeal in the passage before us (Compare Leviticus 11:45; 19:2; 20:26).

God's people have always been called to live holy lives

Peter expresses his faith in the Old Testament by saying "it is written" The fact that it was written settled it for him.

Holiness is possible, within reach, or nothing would have been said about it. God does not ask for the impossible. Holiness is to be found in "all" (v. 15). It is for all of us, all the time.

There is one more thing which Peter tells us to do. He tells us, Let your

VI. Time Be Passed in Fear

"pass the time of your sojourning here in fear" (v. 17b).

The word sojourning means "to have a home alongside of." It speaks of a person living in a foreign land among people who are not his kind. We, as believers, are pilgrims and strangers, temporarily settled down alongside a pagan population. We are not here to stay. We must be ready to be on the move. Life must be lived in the light of eternity. Our judgments must be made in the light of eternity, and not on the spur of the moment.

The right kind of fear results in the right kind of life

The fear Peter mentions here is not a servile dread of God, but a reverential awe of Him. This fear is self-distrust, tenderness of conscience, watchfulness against temptation (fearful lest we fall into it and be defeated by the devil). It is fear that the life, which has come to us at such great cost, not be lived to the fullest. This fear keeps us wide awake and alert in a world where it is so easy to be caught sleeping. It is fear of loss at the Judgment Seat of Christ (Compare v. 17a; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15).

Believers are not left without anything to do till Jesus comes. If we do the things Peter exhorts us to do, we shall not be ashamed before Him at His appearing (Compare 1 John 2:28).