Ah, that little word – “IF”!  Our quotation above is from 2 Peter 1.  Today we read Peter’s final message as he realises he is soon to die.  It is a time when he sees much evil growing and false believers coming to the fore who “promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves of corruption.  For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first” [2 v.19,20]

What is the false promise of freedom?  A glaring example today is the slogan in some churches, ‘Once saved, always saved.’  The idea that after you are ‘saved’ then ‘grace’ covers all your future sins regardless!  

A strange kind of freedom!

Now we must take special notice of Peter’s powerful words early in this letter.  He tells his readers that he and they have been “… granted … all things that pertain to life” and “having escaped the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire … make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective and unfruitful …” [1 v.3-8]   

It is helpful to look at other versions to get the fullest meaning behind some of these qualities.  Some Greek words cannot be effectively translated by one English word. For e.g. ‘virtue’ has been rendered as integrity.  ‘Knowledge’ can be the act of knowing, in the sense of having a relationship, as we will see in Job shortly in his relationship with the Creator.  

Finally, note v.10.   “Therefore brothers (and sisters) be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fail”

Surely we all desire to experience goods days, to love and enjoy life.  Well then, let us specially notice Peter’s advice that we read in his letter today – for his next words, to those above, are “let him (or her) keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit; let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.” [1 Peter 3 v.10,11]

It is not just seeking – it is pursuing – remembering, as Peter next writes, “for the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.  But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.” [v.12]

Just two classes of people!  Nothing in between!  The increasing selfish self-centredness in the world today we might not class as evil – but it is a way of life that leaves God totally out of the picture?   There are also those who only like to have “a form of godliness” but Paul advises Timothy to “avoid such people”  [2 Tim. 3 v.5].  This is not being self righteous; this is recognizing there are, only two pathways to choose from. We must see the situation as God does.

Those who choose God’s pathway, Peter further says, have “ceased from sin, so as to live the rest of the time … no longer for human passions but for the will of God” instead of “living in sensuality, passions …” [Ch.4 v.2,3].

We had our thoughts further provoked by his next words about those who follow the more worldly way of life and their attitude compared to those who earnestly follow a godly way.  “They malign you,” writes Peter, “but will give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead” [v.4,5].  So Peter’s comments indicate God calls to account at the time of judgement those who know the right way to live, but do not do so!

The scripture tells us that (Isaiah 26 v.14; Psalm 49 v.17-20, etc) that many when they die, will stay dead, they “will never again see light.”  However, Peter is making it plain there is a whole class of others who, “will give account to God” because of their failure to follow in the pathway to his kingdom.  So let all of us, as we read last week in Hebrews, “make straight paths for your feet” [12 v.23] and fully heed the words of Peter we read in his letter – because we desire to … see good days” especially in the awesome wonder of God’s kingdom on earth – and how soon now!

 Today we started to read the 3 chapters of Habakkuk.  This prophet wrestles with his perception of God’s actions, essentially he has been asking, ‘God when are you going to do something to deal with all the evil around me?’  There are some clues that he is living in the final years of the nation of Judah when Godly kings were men of the past. 

It is an uncommon book in that he is asking God questions, questions we would like to ask!  Then he gives the answers he gets from God.  “O LORD, how long shall I cry for help … and you will not save?  Why do you make me see iniquity, and why do you idly look at wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; strife and contention … the law is paralysed … justice goes forth perverted.” [Ch.1 v.2-4]

God’s first answer is that he is bringing the Chaldeans and they will punish the nation. This leads to the prophet’s next question, “Are you not from everlasting, O LORD my God, my Holy One?” [v.12] “Why do you idly look at traitors and are silent when the wicked swallows up the man more righteous than he?” [v.13]

The answers from God come in tomorrow’s chapter, “And the LORD answered me: Write the vision; and make it plain … the vision awaits its appointed time; it hastens to the end … if it seems slow wait for it; it will surely come … for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.” [2 v.2,3,14] 

Until that time surely comes we note God’s words of woe to those who ignore him. 

“Woe to him who gets evil gain” [Ch.2 v.9] “and nations weary themselves for nothing” [v.13].  The nations are striving to do so much at the moment but achieving so little, such as in their efforts to combat climate change – or keep the world’s finances in a stable condition.  It may well be many more problems lie ahead, but what is Habakkuk’s attitude?  “Though the fig tree should not blossom, no fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fails and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off …” [Ch.3 v.17]   Despite also being affected by this, the prophet says, “yet I will rejoice in the LORD: I will take joy in the God of my salvation.  GOD, the Lord is my strength” [v.18,19]

Today we completed reading the letter of James; it is full of interesting and, at times, challenging thoughts.  He is the leader of the Jerusalem church that you read about in Acts 15 v,13 – and probably the half brother of Jesus. As the chief spokesman for the believers at Jerusalem not long before the city was encircled and finally destroyed by the Roman armies in AD 67-70, his comments in his final chapter are mainly directed at the situation that had developed there.   

This is 30 years after the church had been established around 30 AD.  There is fairly conclusive evidence that James was martyred in A.D.62.

So James is writing to warn them of their approaching last days and he says, “weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you, your riches have rotted … You have laid up treasure in the last days … you have lived on the earth in luxury and self-indulgence.” [5 v.1-3,5]  This is so true of today in Australia.

Remember how, when we read 2 Tim. 3 a few weeks ago, we saw the reference to conditions in the last days (v.1) and saw, flowing on from the previous chapter a description of the spiritual condition of believers!  They had only “a form of godliness” – this is so parallel to the situation James is facing.

Back in James we see how he then makes the vital point, “Be patient (steadfast) therefore brothers until the coming of the Lord … establish your hearts … the judge is standing at the door” [v.7,8]

These words apply so much to the world today as we live in the end of the times of the Gentiles (non-Jews). The total godlessness around us is as much a sign to us of the nearing “end” as we see news of the continuing crisis in the Middle East especially in the nations north of God’s Holy Land.

“Behold, we consider those blessed who remain steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job” [v.11].  So, as we read Job for the rest of this month, we should remember how James sees him as an example; may Job be an example to us also in these “last days.”

 This is how the final chapter of the prophecy Micah begins, ‘Woe is me’!  Much of this chapter, as with previous chapters, pictures the lawless attitudes surrounding the prophet.  

     His words of lament could just about describe life as it is becoming today around many of us.  “The godly has perished from the earth,” he writes, and “there is no one upright … put no trust in a neighbour; and have no confidence in a friend”[v.2,5].  Family life in Israel had broken down, “the son treats the father with contempt, the daughter rises up against her mother” [v.6].    It was similar in the previous chapter, the “inhabitants speak lies, and their tongue is deceitful in their mouth.” [6 v.9]

However – and this is remarkable, as with all the so-called smaller prophets we have been reading in recent weeks, the final message God gives through them ends with a triumphant picture of ultimate blessing.  This must have been a great source of encouragement to each prophet – as it is to all those today who spend some of their time reading and reflecting on these messages.

Micah says, “But as for me, I will look to the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation, my God will hear me” [v.7].  That is the power of a positive faith, this is the spirit we need and may need more and more, especially if we feel overwhelmed by events and we are tempted to cry, “Woe is me”. 

The last verses indicate final blessings for God’s people, blessing for those who maintain their faith and also those who have sought repentance after failure.  “Who is a God like you, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of his inheritance … he will again have compassion on us” [v.18,19] 

May he have compassion on us too – for no one is perfect but if we with Micah will “wait for the God of my salvation”, we can say with Micah, “my God will hear me.” 

 As we read James Ch. 1 it seemed to us that every verse was pregnant with a message for us in this 21^st Century.  It is a chapter to be read slowly, like rich quality food, getting its full flavour and appreciating the way the principles for living, which it promotes, are in very great need today.  The full context of the words in our heading is “Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.” [v.21]  It causes us to meditate on our attitude on receiving God’s word!  Is it implanted within us?

A most provocative statement is in v.2-4, “Count it all joy … when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete lacking nothing.” 

    To receive tests and trials with “joy” requires total spiritual vision and Paul is the ultimate example. We complete our growing up physically in our teenage years and when we are 20 God counts us as mature and responsible for our lives (read Numbers 32 v.11).

However, our growing up before God is a lifelong journey through the wilderness of this world to make our “steadfastness” complete.  God knows that we need situations which test faith.  Only through these will our spiritual growth be complete. We are all different and God selects those he chooses to fit them into different parts of his spiritual temple (Ephes. 2 v.21) so that his temple is “complete, lacking nothing.”

Those who truly grow will have the strength to brush aside all the filthiness and rampant wickedness that surrounds them – and more than that, will have a character that receives the word of God and implants that word into their minds.  They will not be a “hearer who forgets” but instead be “a doer who acts” and “will be blessed in his (or her) doing” [v.22-25] and will succeed in their efforts “to keep oneself unstained from the world” [last verse]

 One cannot help but be attracted by the way the 4^th chapter of Micah’s prophecy begins with the above words.  But first let’s think of the significance of v.11-12, “Now many nations are assembled against you, saying, ‘Let her be defiled and let our eyes gaze on Zion.’ But they do not know the thoughts of the LORD, they do not understand his plan … “   This seems to be exactly the attitude of the enemies of Israel today.

Now when Micah was prophesying (BC 740-720) as it states in Ch.1 v.1 it was the last days of the northern kingdom and in the southern kingdom of Judah the same decay of true worship was now happening.  The attitude of the surrounding nations was to encourage and help the destruction of God’s nation by Assyria and later by the Babylonians. 

But God’s words, quoted above, were not about those days but about the “latter days” for we read “ … they do not understand his plan, that he has gathered them as sheaves to the threshing floor.  Arise and thresh O daughter of Zion, for I will make your horn (symbol of strength) iron, and your hooves bronze; you shall beat in pieces many peoples … “ [v.12-13]   This started to happen when Israel became a nation in 1948, but how are we to understand the present?  We see a parallel to when Israel first became a nation under King Saul and were successful.  We know that when the Jews first started to return to their promised land a 100 and more years ago that reading the Bible was an essential part of life in the kibbutzim, but like as Saul and his supporters failed to really believe and trust in God, so life became difficult – until God raised up a far more spiritual King – David!  

Today we await David’s greater son to come and complete the fulfilment of these words.  Of course the most wonderful thing to happen “in the latter days” is that “many nations shall come and say; let us go up to the mountain of the LORD … that he may teach us his ways … for out of Zion shall go forth the law … he shall judge between many peoples … nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” [v.2-4]  And then, in contrast to the gods of human imagination, “we will walk in the name of the LORD our God forever and ever.” [v.5]   Let our aim be to walk in his name here and now!

 “Holiness” is the quality without which no one will see the Lord, as we read Chapter 12 of Hebrews today!    This can be worrying, for surely no one can really achieve holiness, is that not a quality parallel to perfection? We must think about this carefully. 

The opening verse tells us of the need to discipline ourselves and aim to “lay aside every weight and the sin which clings so closely”. But then the point is made that Jesus, who is the “perfecter of our faith” [v.2]; that he shows us the way to do and by “looking” to him we can do the same.  The word translated looking means keeping our eyes fixed on as the GNB translates it.  So it is far far more than a casual glance, or a quick thought as we probably do as we offer thanks for our food. Our Saviour Jesus expects us to have a living relationship with him and with God – go back and read Ch. 10 v.19-23. 

God is treating us as sons and daughters [v.7] – all those who take on the name of His Son in baptism.   We read, “ … we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us.  Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?” [v.9]  

Our heavenly Father’s discipline “yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.”  This is of even greater need as the world grows more chaotic and distractions and uncertainties increase.  All around us people are living for the pleasures of the moment; tragically they have no long term vision at all.  

It is hard to really relate to an increasing number of our fellows because their aims in life are so different to ours – but we must keep trying.  Our influence today can be more because of what we do than what we say. We read on and see the advice, “strive for peace with everyone one and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord” [v.14]

This shows that one aspect of achieving and maintaining “holiness” is achieving “peace.” There was an interesting illustration of this in Ch. 11. We read of the faith of “Rahab the prostitute” [v.31] and that “she did not perish … because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.”  The phrase “friendly welcome” could be translated as “in peace” for the Greek word is exactly the same.  This illustrates the attitude that is a factor in maintaining “holiness” in a world given over almost entirely to unholiness.