Frank's Bible Blog

2 Peter 3-- The View at 30,000 Feet

I spend a lot of time in airplanes--not that I particularly enjoy them, but until someone figures out a way to fax me to where I need to go, they are a necessary evil. People used to complain about the taste of airplane food but not any more--the airlines don't give you any food now! (At least, not unless charging you $5 for a can of Pringles is considered providing food). One thing I do enjoy about airplane rides, however, is the perspective they give. On the ground, everything is hurry, hurry, hurry. You see only what is in close proximity. But as you move to a higher elevation, that all changes. You can see entire cities and regions of the country with just a glance. To me, it is very peaceful. An even greater peace can be experienced every day, on the ground, when we keep things in the perspective of eternity. Peter lays out the big picture in chapter 3. It is the picture of eternity and God's approach to time (one day is like a thousand years v 8). But more important, it is a reminder that God hasn't forgotten His promises to us. Just because we are frazzled by our latest crisis doesn't mean that God is, or that it has caught Him off guard. Something better than what we see now is coming, and that is something we can look forward to with hope (v14). In the meantime, we need to keep working to bring people to Christ (v 9) and living a consistently blameless life (v 14). Keep eternity in view and everything else will fall into place.
_________________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential.Please share this blog with your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

2 Peter 2-- Are You a Frog in a Kettle?

You've heard the illustration of the frog in the kettle. Place a frog in boiling water and he jumps right out. Place him in room temperature water then slowly heat the pot to boiling and he stays--and dies. The same is true for us when it comes to deception by society and false teachers. Peter spends an entire chapter dealing with the subject of false teachers, those who would lure believers away from truth and into sin. At first glance, when you read this description of false teachers, what they are doing, and their pending judgment, you may be tempted to say "that doesn't apply to me--I don't listen to those kinds of people."  You might even think that you don't know anyone like that. The reality is that these people are all around us. They influence culture, society, education, and in some cases, even our church practices. They often come from a religious background and know how to "talk the talk" (vv 3, 15, 18-19). What they say seems logical. It doesn't come across as offensive. But just like the frog in the kettle, we can easily get lulled into false sense of security that ultimately can be destructive to us. So, how does one avoid this? Don't think you can outsmart these folks--they are polished and experienced.  Rather, know the truth. Know what you believe and why you believe it. Know the word of God. This is one reason why it is critically important that we spend time each day reading the Bible. You don't have to be an expert in all the different kinds of counterfeits--you just have to know the real thing. Filter everything you see, hear and experience through the truth of Scripture.  Do this, and you won't get caught in the kettle of deception.
_________________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential.Please share this blog with your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.

2 Peter 1-- Death Keeps Life in Perspective

Death is one of those subjects that few people like to talk or even think about. Many people, especially younger ones, go through life with an attitude of indestructibility. They never pause to think that some day their life will end. They know intellectually it will, but assume that it won't be for a long, long time. By failing to grasp the fact that there is an end to life, they actually miss out on real life now because they are not doing anything that will last after their life. Peter kept things in perspective when he said "shortly I must put off my tent...I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease" (vv 14-15). Knowing that life has a limit should cause us to maximize each day that we have. There isn't time to be sidetracked from our mission. We can't afford to detour. Even a little stumble along the way can keep us from realizing our full potential. So how do you keep from stumbling and truly live life to its fullest? Peter lays out a step by step process in verses 5-11. It starts with our faith in Christ as Savior. Then, we build on that faith with moral excellence and knowledge. Next comes self-control, patient endurance and godliness. We round it out with brotherly compassion and ultimately genuine love. The depth of our life's impact will be measured by how much these eight traits are true of our life. None of us knows how much time we have left. Let's live a life that truly makes a difference by excelling in these eight areas.
_________________________

Frank Banfill is an author, international speaker, and president of MaxPoint Ministries, whose purpose is to help individuals, churches and ministries reach their full potential.Please share this blog with your family & friends. Not a subscriber? Sign up now at www.FranksBibleBlog.com.