My first mentor Mamie Hinch taught me to pay close attention to the musings of people who are getting ready to exit planet earth. From this instruction I have always paid close attention to Jesus’ final remarks found in John chapter 14-17. I have also been very sensitive to the last books written by great lovers of Jesus! Today while reading a familiar passage in II Peter I realized that I was reading Peter’s pre-exit comments. Peter was reminding Christians of what they needed to be diligent about in order to “fall proof” their walk with the Lord. He even mentioned that he was repeating himself to assure that his fellow Christians would be diligent to add the following to their lives.
“Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness and godliness with brotherly affection and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”(II Peter 1:5-8)
As I re-read these qualities that make a Christian fit for the King, I found a little nugget just after the passage that stated that adding these qualities to your life results in “fall proof” living.
“Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities YOU WILL NEVER FALL.”
II Peter 1:10
Peter even intensifies his reminder with the comment that God had showed him that his ‘re-location to heaven’ was fast approaching. He admitted that he was not going to apologize for repeating himself to his spiritual siblings concerning the qualities that a Christian needs to develop to be fit for the King each day. How wonderful to consider that Peter, our brother in Christ, was seeing his earthly exit and wanted to encourage Christians everywhere with this holy reminder. I pray that my life in this New Year is a display of listening to Peter’s “fall proof” instruction.