Without God’s trials we would not dig out this living hope—the only one there is.
Peter firmly believed he was living in these last times (1 Peter 1:20). But that time is now. Most of all, he wrote for us.
“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin” (1 Peter 4:1). Christ has suffered for us and now we must arm ourselves with the same mind.
Are you armed with the mind of Christ, who suffered mightily for each one of us? We must bearmed with His mind to endure our fiery trials.
“But the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer” (verse 7).
Again Peter stresses the urgency of the times. The Companion Bible says the phrase at hand means it has drawn near. Thayer’s says it is “concerning things imminent and soon to come to pass.” Vincent’s Word Studies says it means, “literally, ‘has come near.’”
This end doesn’t mean the final death of man and all things. It is referring to the end of man’s rule and the beginning of a new age, ruled by Jesus Christ.
This worst crisis ever is about to give birth to a new and splendid age. There is intense pain, but what a birth!
Why did God allow the apostles to think Christ was coming in the first century? I’m sure it was to ensure that we all focus on Christ’s return! That is our hope! All human history points to that greatest of all events. God let those great men believe it was imminent in order to prod them to bear down and concentrate on Christ’s return.
Today, the end of all things truly is at hand! So we must take Peter’s point to heart: Because time is so short, we must be sober and watch unto prayer.
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