Daily Bread - 05/09/07

2 Peter 1:11 - For in this way you shall be richly supplied the entrance into the everlasting Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

One could simply view this scripture as an assurance to the obedient and diligent of being given a lavish entrance into the Kingdom of God at the time of death. Professor Salmond felt that this text was the reverse of "saved, yet so as by fire" (1 Corinthians 3:15). Yet there is more to this verse; for surely the purpose of our lives now to be the witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ must take on more of the dimension of the life and glory of Jesus (John 14:12; 17:22).

The divine opportunities that are given to us now in the Kingdom of God cry out to us in the declaration, "Until you be endued with power from on high" (Luke 24:49; Acts 1:8). Keeping in mind the fact that Paul said that the saints have been translated from the kingdom of this world into the kingdom of the Dear Son, we must be willing to embrace that we have already entered into some dimension of the Kingdom of God now (Colossians 1:14).

Jesus told the leaders of Israel that the Kingdom would be taken from them and given to another nation that would bring forth the fruits of the Kingdom (Matthew 21:43). Jesus also commanded us to seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness as a way in which we daily live our lives (Matthew 6:33). Paul also gave us a description of the fruits of the Kingdom of God that should be manifested in our daily lives as evidence of our communion with God when he said, "For the Kingdom of God is not meat and drink but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost" (Romans 14:17). The only qualifications of entering into the Kingdom of God is having been born of the Spirit (John 3:5).

Peter is addressing the saints to take hold of a realm of consecration that will result in an increased revelation of God's glory now and no doubt a triumphant entry into the realms of that glory after this life on earth has ended. Although, as The Bible Exposition Commentary points out, "If we make lavish provision to grow spiritually (2 Peter 1:5), then God will make lavish provision for us when we enter heaven," it must also be observed that there is a lavish provision that we are to enter into now so that the 'Kingdom of Dear Son' may be revealed. If we are willing to function in the lavishly supplied riches of the Spirit to walk in the nature of God then there will also be a lavish supply of grace to function in the realms of the miracle glory of the Kingdom (2 Peter 1:5, 11).

The examples of those who stepped over into this realm of glory are many from Enoch to Paul. Surely there is a continual increase in the nature of God as well as the glory and power of God if we are willing to give ourselves wholly to His purposes. Paul opens the door to all saints to know the love of Christ that passes knowledge and to be filled with all of the fullness of God. He also sets forth the call to "the measure of the maturity of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 3:18-19; 4:13). We may be certain that God rewards those who diligently seek Him with the same kind of rewards that He gave to Enoch and all of those spoken of in the Bible (Hebrews 11:6). There awaits boundless insight into the glories of the inheritance and exceeding greatness of the power of Christ Jesus for all who are willing and obedient (Ephesians 1:18-19).

Peter is not referring to a works-based reward but to an obedience-based inheritance. The door is opened to explore the endless realms of the Spirit of God, but it is only through yielding to and obeying the Spirit of God that we may enter in and explore these unsearchable riches of Christ and gaze upon those things which 'eyes have not seen nor ears have heard nor has entered into the heart of man' (1 Corinthians 2:9; Ephesians 3:8-9).

Be blessed,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
abidingplace.org