‘THE CHRISTIAN’S ETERNAL GLORY’
I PETER 5:5-11
In the Bible, the Christian life is compared to many things such a member of a body, and as a member of a family. But the one I like the best am the one Peter describes in his book of I Peter, a pilgrim.
We see this in Abraham’s life recorded in Hebrews 11:9-10-By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city, which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
I like the old song, which says, “I am a stranger here within a foreign land, my home is faraway upon a golden strand.”
I heard a story about a boy marching in a parade who was out of step with the others marching. The reason was that he was listening to his pocket radio. He had his ears plugged into music from another location. It is the same with Christians too. For to this world, it may seem that you and I out of step. But the truth is that we are marching to the tune of another world.
I was watching an old move entitled, “The Longest Day’, the other night. It was movie about “D’ Day in WW II when the United States and its allies invaded France at Normandy with 3 million troops. The paratroopers went ahead behind the enemy lines to blow up railroads and bridges. When they landed, they used carrier pigeons to carry the message of their save arrival to avoid the Germans from intercepting their message. They went back to England where they were released. These pigeons have something in them that allows them to find their way back home
It is the same with you and I as Christians; we have something inside of us too. The Holy Spirit which guides us and leads us to our heavenly home.
So as Peter closes out his letter after talking about the Pilgrim’s character, his lifestyle, his actions, he talks about the pilgrim’s future glory; his final leg home.
I-WE SEE IN THIS PASSAGE, THE PILGRiM’S ATTITUDES: V-5-7
He gives us several attitudes we are to have while traveling her in this world.
A-WE ARE TO PRACTIVE THE ATTIUTDE OF ABASEMENT: V-5-6
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. 6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:
In these verses, we are to be submissive or humble in three directions: toward the elders, toward each other and toward God.
When he talks about the “elder”, he is talking about age. He is talking about older Christians who are leaders. He is saying to the younger Christians, be humble toward them, be teachable, and look to their example and experience.
Mark Twain said, “when he was 18, he thought his daddy was the dumbest person he knew. But three years later when he reached 21, he thought he was the smartest man he knew. He sure had learned a lot in three years. “ But what had really happen, this young man had grew up and saw he needed him.
When he says, we are to “be clothed with humility”, it means to tie a knot. It is the idea of a slave putting on his apron. In others words we are to take the role of a slave toward each other.
Martin Luther said, we need goat sense? He tells of seeing two goats meeting on a path on a mountain ledge. Instead of butting one another, one of them laid down and allowed the other one to pass over him. That is real humility and is what we need in the Church.
John Wesley was a great preacher, but not everybody, of course, liked him. One day as Mr. Wesley was out walking, he was on a narrow path when he met a man who didn’t like him. One of the men would have to step aside to allow the other to pass. The man came charging ahead saying, "I never make way for fools." John quickly stepped aside saying, "I always do."
Notice in our humility toward God, He is the one who does the exalting. For the way up in the Kingdom of God is down.
I remember when I was student at Mobile College of seeing one of the religious professors kneeling and praying to God as we started the class. He taught us a lesson that day on being humble before God.
The branch that bears the most fruit bows lowest to the ground while the branch with little or no fruit stands most upright. So it is with humility and conceit. Humility carries with it the weight of wisdom while conceit has the light-headedness of pride.
B-WE AE TO PRACTIVE THE ATTITUDE OF ASSURANCE: V-7
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
The word care here means, worry anxiety, and problems. These worries are caused by the burden of this life.
We all have them and we can react in one of three ways: (1) We can break down, (2) we can hold them in which leads to depression, or (3) we can cast them upon the Lord and allow Him to sustain us. (Psa. 55:22) Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.
Toward the end of the deer season last year, a "Deer Crossing" sign on a California highway had another sign fastened to it, evidently by a disappointed hunter. It read, "Promises, promises!"
Well, God’s promises are sure and we can depend upon them.
Henry Moorhouse, when engaged in a work that seemed to call upon him for a more than usual exercise of faith, received what seems like a most tender answer from God.His little daughter, who was a paralytic, was sitting in her chair as he entered the house with a package in his hand for his wife. Going up to her and kissing her, he asked, "Where is Mother?" "Mother is upstairs." "Well, I have a package for her." "Let me carry the package to Mother." "Why, Minnie, dear, how can you carry the package? You cannot carry yourself." With a smile on her face, Minnie said, "Oh, no, Papa; but you give me the package, and I will carry the package, and you will carry me." Taking her up in his arms, he carried her upstairs--little Minnie and the package, too.
And then it came to him that this was just his position in the work in which he was engaged. He was carrying his burden, but was not God carrying him?
We need to do as the song says, “I must tell Jesus, I cannot bear my burdens alone.” Let your problem be His problem.
II-WE SEE IN PASSAGE, THE PILGRAM’S ADVERSARY: V-8-9
Peter now changes gear, and says, be alert, be sober and watch out for the Devil.
A-NOTICE HOW THE DEVIL IS DESCRIBLED: V-8
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
A little girl said, the devil is not real, he’s just like the Easter bunny, it’s your mother. Well, if you’re a Child of God, you know that the devil is real.
In Helensburgh, Scotland, on William Street, there is a house with a carved stone devil on the roof. Why it’s there is an interesting story. The owner of the house had a disagreement with the minister of the church, whose house was opposite his. He put the stone devil on the roof to taunt him. When we are unkind or unforgiving, we offer a real opportunity to the devil that is far more serious than that man’s childish act.
Recently, the leaders of the National Council of Churches warned the President to remember that God is neither a Republican, nor a Democrat. Jay Leno commented: "While it’s true that God is not a Republican or a Democrat, I think we’d all agree the devil is registered with both parties!"
Have you heard about the fellow who was seriously ill? A visitor asked him if he was willing to turn his life over to God and renounce the devil. "I am willing to give my life to God," he said, "But a man in my condition should not be making any enemies."
Here, he is not described as your friend but as your enemy. He is described as a “roaring lion.”
Back in the Garden of Eden, he is came to Eve as a serpent, but in these last days, he comes as a roaring lion.
In our day, he is ripping up young people lives; he is tearing up the home, and devouring all that’s good.
B-NOTICE HOW THE DEVIL IS DEFEATED: V-9
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
The Scriptures say that we are to “resist him”. This was a military term, which meant to stand your ground. They would stand against the enemy in single file. The were to stand so as not to allow a gap to take place.
D. W. Whittle tells of a man who came to Charles Finney and said: "I don’t believe in the existence of a devil." "Don’t you?" said the old man. "Well, you resist him for a while, and you will believe in it."
The devil is a bully, but when we stand in the armor of God he cannot harm us; if we tackle him in our own strength, we are soon done for; but if we stand with the strength and courage of God, he cannot gain one inch of way at all.
We do this in faith and use the weapons of prayer, of the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit.
A Christian counselor was questioning a little girl who had recently received the Savior. Trying to prepare her for temptations and the assaults of the evil one, the friend inquired, "What if the devil comes to your door and tries to lead you astray?"The young Christian replied, "I’ll ask Jesus to answer it!"
But the main thing is to be alert for him. What is the difference between being aware and beuing alert? I read where a preacher talked about scaring his wife: He said, My wife Christ knew I was in the house last night but she was engrosed in reading. When I came down the hall way into the room where she was and said honey she almost jumped out of her skin. She was aware but not alert.
Samson wasn’t alert and he lost his strength, Peter wasn’t alert and he lost his testimony, and Demas wasn’t alert and became a backslider.
A little boy was taken by his father to a major city and as they walked along the streets of down town, they noticed a skyscraper being built. The father walked over and there was a peek hole where you could look in and see the construction going on. There was a very deep hole being dug. The little boy thought in his mind, "My goodness! What are they building?" He was thinking it was going to be an awfully deep swimming pool. But he asked his dad "What are they building?" And his dad pointed out other skyscrapers to him and said, "Look, son. This is what they are building. They’re building skyscrapers." The boy looked again and said, "Dad, they’re digging in the wrong way. They’re digging down, not preparing to go up.
And the father then had the opportunity to explain to his son that the only way to build a skyscraper was to have a very solid foundation.
III-WE SEE INTHIS PASSAGE, THE PILGRAM’S ARRIVAL: V-10-11
Now Peter looks to the future that awaits the bride of Christ. Sometime, it seems the pilgrim goes home, he has been stripped up his health, and has nothing. But he does, for he has God.
A-PETER CALLS HIM THE GOD OF GRACE: V-10
But the God of all grace
The Christian life begins with grace and it ends with grace. We have been saved by grace, we are been sustained by grace, and we are been satisfied by grace and one day we will see the source of grace, God, Himself.
On the evening of April 25, 1958, a young Korean exchange student, a leader in student Christian affairs in the University of Pennsylvania, left his flat and went to the corner to post a letter to his parents in Pusan. Turning from the mailbox he stepped into the path of eleven leather-jacketed teenage boys. Without a word they attacked him, beating him with a blackjack, a lead pipe and with their shoes and fists. Later, when the police found him in the gutter, he was dead. All Philadelphia cried out for vengeance. The district attorney secured legal authority to try the boys as adults so that those found guilty could be given the death penalty. Then a letter arrived from Korea that made everyone stop and think. It was signed by the parents and by twenty other relatives of the murdered boy. It read in part:
"Our family has met together and we have decided to petition that the most generous treatment possible within the laws of your government be given to those who have committed this criminal action--.In order to give evidence of our sincere hope contained in this petition, we have decided to save money to start a fund to be used for the religious, educational, vocational, and social guidance of the boys when they are released--.We have dared to express our hope with a spirit received from the gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ who died for our sins."
No matter what period of life you are now in, God’s grace is there to support you.
One of God’s aged saints fell and broke her hip. As she lay discouraged in a hospital bed, she asked the doctor, "How long will I have to stay here?" The wise doctor replied, "Just one day at a time!"
God deals with His children on a day-by-day basis: "As thy days, so shall thy strength be" (Deut. 33:25
Thy shoes shall be iron and brass; and as thy days, so shall thy strength be.
B-PETER CALLS HIM THE GOD OF GLORY: V-10B
who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, 11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
The Christian pilgrim is headed to heaven that gloryland, where God dwells.
It will be a glorious day when the pilgrim reaches that heavenly home, and hear the Father say, “Welcome Home.”
A small boy, with his father, was in an elevator going up in the Empire State Building in New York. As they flashed by the 66nd floor, the lad, in considerable anxiety, seized his father’s hand, and in an awestruck whisper, said, "Does God know we are coming?"
This is an amusing story; but, the serious answer is: Yes, God knows we are coming!
Thomas Edison had been in a coma. Coming out of it he said, "It is very beautiful over there," and then he died.
I wouldn’t change that glory for anything that this world has to offer.
It was a wonderful sight when I saw the US hockey team celebration after they had won the gold medal beating the Russian in 1980. They were running around the arena holing up the US flag and shouting ,USA, USA.
But the glory over there won’t last for a few minutes but our Christian glory will last forever. There will be glory when the Sun quits shining, we will have glory when the moon grown cold, we will have glory when this earth is just a memory for we will be in the presence of Glory, Jesus, for all eternity.
In recent years there have been a number of stories in the "Life After Life" vein. One of the most moving that I have read is the story that is told by singer Johnny Cash about the death of his brother, Jack, in 1944. Jack was two years older than Johnny and had always been his hero and model. On Saturday, May 12, 1944, Jack went to work at a workshop, cutting fence posts. Johnny had tried to talk Jack into going to a movie with him that day but funds were low and the family needed the money.While at the workshop Jack fell across the table saw and was badly injured. He was rushed to the hospital, but they didn’t expect him to live through the day. He lingered for a week, in and out of consciousness, sometimes hallucinating, then back into a coma. After a week of his condition worsening, it was obvious that he was going to die. The family gathered in the hospital room. Jack was swollen from the ravages of the traumatic injury. Johnny Cash tells the story:"I remember standing in line to tell him good-bye. He was still unconscious. I bent over his bed and put my cheek against his and said, ’Good-bye, Jack.’ That’s all I could get out."My mother and daddy were on their knees. At 6:30 A.M. he woke up. He opened his eyes and looked around and said, ’Why is everybody crying over me? Mama, don’t cry over me. Did you see the river?’
"And she said, ’No, I didn’t, Son.’"’Well, I thought I was going toward the fire, but I’m headed in the other direction now, Mama. I was going down a river, and there was fire on one side and heaven on the other. I was crying, ’God, I’m supposed to go to heaven. Don’t You remember? Don’t take me to the fire.’ All of a sudden I turned, and now, Mama, can you hear the angels singing?’"She said, ’No, Son, I can’t hear it.’
"And he squeezed her hand and shook her arm, saying, ’But Mama, you’ve got to hear it.’ Tears started rolling off his cheeks and he said, ’Mama, listen to the angels. I’m going there, Mama.’"We listened with astonishment."’What a beautiful city,’ he said. ’And the angels singing. Oh Mama, I wish you could hear the angels singing.’ Those were his last words. And he died.
The memory of Jack’s death, his vision of heaven, the effect his life had on the lives of others, and the image of Christ he projected have been more of an inspiration to me, I suppose, than anything else that has ever come to me through any man."
CONCLUSION-William Burns was leaving Scotland to go to China as a missionary. Someone said to him, I guess you are going to China to convert the people of China. He replied, I am going to China to Glorify God.
As a Christian Pilgrim on this earth, are you glorifying God? If not come in repentance and start doing it toay.
