The End Is Near

Introduction

I don’t know how you go about setting goals. I know that some do and some take life as it comes. We need both kinds. While you may not think a lot about setting goals, most of us do think about goals in some form. When Christmas is coming, most of us think about gifts that must be bought and being prepared for that event. For some of us that is the night before. Early in our marriage, I remember shopping for Barbara on Christmas Eve. Did you know that stores close early on Christmas Eve? Running through the mall, literally, must have been an interesting site for clerks.

From the beginning of this letter, Peter has the end in mind. In 1:4, he mentions that there is an inheritance in heaven waiting for those who belong to Christ. In 1:13, he tells his readers to keep their hope set on the revealing of Jesus. In 2:11, the readers are told to live as aliens and strangers in this world so that God can be glorified when he returns. Again a view of the end is in mind. Then in 3:21-22, Peter tells his readers that in their baptism they expressed their faith in the resurrection of Jesus to save them since Jesus’ power is clearly seen in his heavenly status. Again, the end in mind.

Peter’s point throughout this letter is to keep the end in mind as you live in the present. And in the section that we will look at today, the point is made again. Look at 1 Peter 4:7—The end of all things is near. Keep the end in mind, then we are able to live faithfully. That is not only the point of today’s lesson, but the point of Peter’s letter. When we have the end in mind, then we know how we are to live. Today we will be reminded of how we live makes a difference especially when we live focused on the end.

The Text

As we begin looking at this text, one of the things we notice is that what Peter writes is not new. In 1:13, he has already told his readers to be self-controlled with a view toward Christ’s return and so this section begins with the same thought. But in this section, while the end is in mind, the element of self-control affects our prayer life. Peter says that with clear mindedness and self-control we can pray. Clear mindedness and self-control are synonymous. When these are present we are able, in combination with an awareness of the end, to pray more effectively and genuinely.

Then there are three more instructions which Peter gives in light of the end being near. First, love each other deeply. Such love will bring greater unity in a very hostile world. This idea has as its source Proverbs 10:12. It is probably a paraphrase or catchy phrase that was prominent in Peter’s day and in this area. Proverbs 10:12 says “Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers all wrongs.” In this case there is a set of opposites set up. Hatred is the opposite of love; thus, dissension and cover all wrongs are seen as opposites. The point—hatred breaks relationships; love brings us together. This is Peter’s point.

Clement of Rome writing at the end of the 1st century to the church in Corinth commented on Peter’s letter by defining how he understood Peter: “Love unites us with God; love covers a multitude of sins; love knows nothing of schisms; love leads no rebellions; love does everything in harmony.”

Peter is not suggesting that we ignore sin or wink at it. But they are to do what they can to preserve harmony. This is similar to what was expressed earlier in 1:22 and 3:8.

Second, offer hospitality. During this time fellow believers would need such hospitality. Many would have been slandered, cut off from social interaction, lost jobs, and lived in uncertainty. The need for hospitality would have been vital. By providing this hospitality the body would have become a place of refuge and safety. The group would have become a place where in unity the believers would have shared in the heartaches while supporting one another through hospitality. This would not have been just a place to spend the night but a group that saw to the physical needs of others. All of this would have been done with an attitude of love not grumbling.

Third, spiritual gifts are to be used to serve each other. Peter mentions only two gifts in this section—speaking or teaching and the gift of serving. Both are intended to be broadly applied covering a variety of specific gifts. The point is found in the use of those gifts. They are to be used to help others. They were to be thinking of each other rather than of themselves.

Application

Live life with the end in mind. Those who think about the end usually end up closer to where they want to be than those who don’t think about the end. The athlete trains vigorously and relentlessly keeping the end in mind. Business turns to ideas with the end in mind. Parents raise children with the end in mind. We have to know where we are going in order to know the path to take. Goals—Deer. We can aim at a lot of different things, but there is truly one end that is in mind. This is Peter’s point. Don’t take your eyes off the inheritance. Take your eyes off the inheritance and our prayer life will suffer. Think only about your satisfaction in this life and you will miss the very goal that you want to attain. What are you aiming for? Where are you headed? Only you can answer that question.

Love deeply. Peter isn’t talking about some warm fuzzy feeling. He is talking about decisions that we make in how we are going to treat each other. It’s nice if we like each other and feel warm toward each other, but that is not what is required for love. The kind of love that Peter is writing about is the kind that works hard to remain committed to each other. We provide for each other without complaining. We think of ways to use our spiritual gifts to serve each other. The kind of love that Peter talks about results in greater unity and greater praise to God.

Follow Jesus

If you’d like to respond to this message or learn more about following Jesus, please reach out.