2 Peter 1:13-14 I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me.
It is possible that Peter was in a Roman prison waiting for execution when he wrote this letter. Tradition is that Peter was crucified upside down by the Emperor Nero. Peter followed the philosophy that I would like to make part of my life: “until the last breath.” As much as I am physically and mentally able, I would like to do my best to serve the Lord. Peter knew by way of revelation that his life would end soon. But he was not worried about that because he had confidence in eternal life. As long as he was still in this physical body, he would do his best to remind those around him and through letters like this of the central call to be re-created into the image of God through Christ. The opening of this letter gives Peter’s key outlook on spiritual growth and the human need for transformation. That may be why this first section is so powerful. It gives the wisdom of one of the key apostles of the early church. It comes after many years (30+) of walking with Christ through the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit. Does our confidence in God grow weaker over the years because life has worn on us, or do we become more dependent and confident in God as we get older? When we retire from employment, does that mean we retire from ministry? Our older years can still be fruitful for God’s kingdom although what we do may be different than our younger days. Until our last breath, we must serve the Lord.
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