This World is Not My Home
by Mark Dewey, a friend and fine exegete

Peter wrote his first letter to encourage the Asian Christians to live in a victorious, God-glorifying way even though they were in a world hostile toward both them and God. He wrote to give them, and us, hope, hope amid the persecution of and exposure to a world held by Satan's sway. Peter reminds his readers of at least three important truths in which this hope is to be grounded. First, in our great God and the salvation that is ours in Christ. Second, in the confidence that the Lord will soon come in all His glory to execute His righteous judgment. Third, in the fact that we are but "sojourners and pilgrims" in this world. Therefore, the suffering we endure now is nothing in comparison to the glory that is to be revealed in us (Rom. 8:18). Here we have no lasting city but we seek the one to come (Heb. 13:14), for our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20). Though in this world we have temporary houses, in the world to come we have our eternal home.

Oh the glorious hope we have in these truths as they find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ! Along with giving us this hope, God has given us responsibilities. We are commanded to live as those who have been saved and set apart by God for His glory. As a matter of fact, our text begins an entire section of application (2:11-3:12) in which Peter describes how, as sojourners and pilgrims, we are to live in this wicked world. He writes that we are to abstain from some things, while pursuing others. Just as there are sins of omission and commission, so obedience requires us to both omit and commit certain actions. It is not enough for Christians to not do what is wrong we must also do that which is right. We are not simply to be reactive against the world, but proactive in the world. How? Peter explains.

He begins by declaring that we must abstain from fleshly lusts. It is the flesh that wages war against our new nature (Rom. 7:13-25), and though redeemed we must be constantly alert to the works of the flesh (Gal. 5:19-21). While no longer a pattern of our lives, these fleshly works can still rear their ugly head and lead us into the threefold sin of the world-the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the boastful pride of life (IJn. 2:16). In a word, Peter is telling us to be holy before God who is holy (1:16). This, in turn, leads to his second exhortation.

Not only are we to live holy before a holy God, but also before and in an unholy world. Our conduct is to be honorable, or excellent, among unbelievers. Peter expounds this teaching in the rest of chapter two and the first twelve verses of chapter three. He tells us to live honorably in authority and under authority, in our homes and outside our homes. More than that, we must do this even when (maybe more accurately, especially when) we are suffering for the sake of Christ. He tells us that this is the purpose for which we have been called and that Christ is our pattern of how to glorify God through suffering (v. 21). That is, we are to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily and follow Jesus (Mt. 16:24).

Why are we called to do such things? As always the answer is, to glorify God. When the unbelieving world speaks against us as evildoers (notice that we are "doers" of something, though falsely accused) our good works will be evident and God will be glorified. Though the "day of visitation" can refer to both God's judgment and blessing. I believe this passage is referring to God's visiting these unbelievers in grace and mercy. In other words, God is pleased to use our lives as a means to bringing sinners to Himself. Yes, faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ (Rom. 10:17), but a couple of things should be kept in mind.

First, while God uses the preaching of His Word as the primary means to save sinners, He also uses means to bring those same sinners to hear the Word proclaimed. As Christians live in the way Peter describes (cf. Titus 2:1-3:8), God and His Word are honored and sinners are drawn to hear more. How many unbelievers have come to the Lord's house because they were invited by a believer? How many would have come if the person who invited them lived like the rest of the world? Our light shines before men as we live in our temporary homes in a way that displays we have an eternal home.

Second, God is pleased to use our actions as a means to allow us to speak the Word of truth. Peter tells us to always be ready to give a defense for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear (3:15).... This verse is often quoted but rarely in context. The context is what this article has been addressing. As we live as sojourners and pilgrims with hope and holiness in a hopeless and sinful world, we will be asked to explain our "strange" behavior. God may very well use both our lives and words as a means to His "day of visitation" in the salvation of sinners. No wonder Peter tells us to "always be ready."

We have all heard the cliché, "he/she is so heavenly minded, they are of no earthly good." I don't know about you, but I have never met such a person. Nor do I anticipate ever meeting one. Because as we pilgrims travel through this world of Vanity Fair on our way to the Celestial City we must be very heavenly minded to be of any earthly good. In doing so we display the fullest meaning of "Home Sweet Home."