WHAT TO BE DOING AS THE END OF ALL THINGS APPROCHES

Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on February 13, 2019 under AM Bible Study |

AM Bible Study Group: February 13, 2019 from 1 Peter 4:7-11

Theme: As ‘the end of all things’ approaches, there are four things that we should be doing.

(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).

“But the end of all things is at hand …” (1 Peter 4:7). Those words may conjure up an old, cartoonish image of a gloomy robed man with a long beard holding a sign. But when Peter wrote those words, he had something far more encouraging and victorious in mind.

First, notice that these words begin with the word “but”. Not all English translations begin this verse with that word (the NIV, NASB and ESV all omit it); but it is present in the original language. It is important in that it is meant to call our attention to the passage that preceded this one; in 1 Peter 4:1-6. That passage reminds us of a time when we once gave ourselves over to sin. The people of this world judged us harshly for not following after those old ways any longer. But their temporal judgments will give way to the final judgment of God. And we will stand in His favor on that day—and throughout eternity. We may have to suffer at the hands of men for a time because of our faith; “But the end of all things is at hand …”

Second, notice that this concerns the “end” of all things. In the original language, the word “things” is not present. Literally, Peter speaks of “the end of all”. And though the word “end” can mean “the termination of all”, it can also speak of “the goal” or “the completion” or “the fulfillment of all”. That final goal is found in verse 11; “that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.” Even though the unbelieving world may fight against and resist this goal, we should never fear or give up. God’s final goal is sure and certain.

And finally, notice that Peter says that the end of all things is “at hand” or is “near”. Peter doesn’t say that the end of all things has arrived yet. He only says that it is drawing close—that it is near—that it is at hand. This is important because many people have believed that the writers of the New Testament were mistaken in thinking that the Lord would return in their lifetimes (with the suggestion that if they were so very wrong about this, then we cannot trust them in anything else that they say). But Peter didn’t believe that the Lord would be coming in his lifetime. The Lord told Peter that he would lay down his life for Him (John 21:18). Peter knew that he would soon ‘put off his tent’, just as the Lord told him (2 Peter 1:14); and he even affirmed that many would mock the seeming delay of the Lord’s return (2 Peter 3:4).

Instead, what Peter wrote was that the end of all things was “at hand”. The Lord Jesus had completed His redemptive work; and now, these are the days when the ‘end of all’ draws near—the final stage in God’s respective history through the gospel (see Acts 2:17ff; 3:21ff; 1 Corinthians 10:11; 1 Timothy 4:1ff; 2 Timothy 3:1ff; 1 John 2:18ff). The only thing that awaits fulfillment is the literal, bodily return of our Lord for His people. Jesus Himself has commanded us to watch and wait. As we do so, we may be called upon to suffer for a time, “But the end of all things is at hand …”

So; this passage is meant to be a great encouragement to God’s people—living in a time of persecution as the end of all draws near. How should we live in such times? Peter writes;

But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 4:7-11).

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First, notice that we’re to …

1. KEEP CLEAR-HEADED FOR THE PURPOSE OF PRAYER.

Peter writes; “But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers” (v. 7).

When Peter writes of being “serious”, he is using a word that—in the original language—means “to be clear-headed” or “to be of a sound mind”. We’re to see things as they really are. And when he then goes on to write of being “watchful”, he uses a word that means “to be sober” or “not intoxicated”. We’re not to have our minds impaired or distracted by anything. We’re not even to let our thinking become overwhelmed by fear or anger. In other words, in a time of trial—when we suffer for our faith—we’re to keep focused on the fact that the Lord is coming soon; and we’re to think straight and keep sharp. And why? It’s so that we can pray. It’s so that we can rightly and accurately use the greatest resource God has ever given to mankind on earth—the power to move His mighty hand by prayer!

Acts 4 gives us a great example of this—at a time when the early believers suffered persecution. Consider how they prayed with seriousness and soundness of mind during a time of pressure. The apostles were strongly reprimanded by the authorities for preaching about Jesus;

And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:

‘Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.’

“For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.” And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness (Acts 4:24-31).

What an example they set for us! So; where should we run to as the end of all things approaches? A cave? A fortress? A place of hiding? No! We run right to the prayer meeting—with a serious attitude and a clear mind—praying for the Lord to bring glory to His name!

A second thing we see is that we should …

2. HAVE EARNEST LOVE FOR EACH OTHER.

Peter wrote, “And above all things have fervent love for one another, for ‘love will cover a multitude of sins’” (v. 8).

We might be tempted to think, “But that’s awfully hard to do that! How can love my brothers and sisters in Christ ‘fervently’? I don’t even particularly like some of them!” It help to remember that Peter isn’t necessarily talking about our having an ‘emotion’ toward one another. The emotion is always good to have; but the kind of love Peter is speaking of—agape in the original language—is an active love. It’s a love that expresses itself in a willingness to sacrifice our own interests in order to bring about the good of one another. It’s a ‘self-sacrificing’ kind of love—the kind of love Jesus showed us. And that willingness to sacrifice in order to bring about the good of each another is what Peter is calling us to have “fervently” or to pursue “earnestly”. It’s the kind of love that the Lord Jesus specifically commanded us to have for one another. Just before He laid down His own life for us and went to the cross on our behalf, He said,

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).

This is something that is needed very much in a time of trial. It’s what distinguishes us as Jesus’ own disciples as we live on this earth while the end of all things approaches. That’s why Peter says it is to be a high priority for us as fellow-believers—that we should obey this word of instruction “above all”. He was quoting from Proverbs 10:12; where it tells us, “Hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins”. He doesn’t mean that our love for one another covers our sins in the sight of God. (That only happens through the blood of Jesus Christ—when we confess our sins and place our trust in the sacrifice that Jesus made on the cross to cleanse us of them.) Rather, Peter is talking about how we—in love—overlook one another’s faults and failings.

Those faults and shortcomings can become very obvious and irritating to us in times of trial and difficulty. But we’re to “above all things have fervent love for one another”; because that willingness to sacrifice for one another’s good will help us to overlook those minor faults and failings, and to be forgiving toward one another.

A third thing that Peter mentions is that we’re to …

3. BE HOSPITABLE TO ONE ANOTHER WITHOUT COMPLAINT.

Peter writes; “Be hospitable to one another …” The word Peter uses is one that speaks of showing ‘kindness to strangers’. This was very important in Peter’s day—and especially in times of persecution and hardship. Christians in times of suffering needed to take one another in and help each other—much like what the apostle John spoke of in his third letter when he wrote;

Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do for the brethren and for strangers, who have borne witness of your love before the church. If you send them forward on their journey in a manner worthy of God, you will do well, because they went forth for His name’s sake, taking nothing from the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we may become fellow workers for the truth (3 John 5-8).

And do you notice that Peter says that they were to be hospitable to one another “without grumbling” (v. 9)? The word in the original language means “to mutter under one’s breath”. To grumble under our breath at the way another believer may need our hospitality is not the way to express sacrificial love.

As the end of all approaches, we should welcome one another into our homes graciously. We should have one another over for dinner—even if we don’t have much to offer; offering a plate of boiled beans and not apologizing for it. That’s how God wants us to live in the light of His Son’s soon return. As the writer of Hebrews put it; “Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels” (Hebrews 13:2).

And finally, Peter says that we are to …

4. SERVE ONE ANOTHER WITH THE GIFTS GOD HAS GIVEN EACH OF US.

Peter writes; “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (v. 10). The “gifts” that Peter is speaking of are spiritual gifts—the particular endowments that are given to each of us in the body of Christ by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of serving one another and meeting each other’s needs in unique ways.

Other passages of the New Testament tell us much about these gifts (see Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:4-11; Ephesians 4:7-16). Peter, however, simply mentions two broad categories. First, he writes, “If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God” (v. 11a). That is, if you have a gift for “speaking” to the lives of others—if, for example, you are a teacher or perhaps a preacher, or an evangelist, or a good counselor and adviser—then put that gift to work (making sure, of course, that you speak “as the oracles of God”—giving people God’s sure word of Scripture and not the ideas of this world). And then, Peter says, “If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies …” (v. 11b). That is, if you have a gift for “ministering” or “serving”—if you’re good with your hands, or can fix things, or can make meals, or have the administrative skills necessary to make things happen—then put that gift to work. As the end of all things draws near, we should ask God’s help in knowing what He has given us to do for the service of the body of Christ—and then do it joyfully, in His power and guidance.

And why are we to do this?—and why are we to do all the other things Peter mentions in this passage? It’s because of the “end” or “final goal” that we were told about at the beginning of this passage is “at hand”. It’s “that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever” (v. 11).

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Peter ends all of this with a bold “Amen”; and so should we! But let’s not just say “Amen” to it all with our words only. Let’s also be sure to say “Amen” with our very lives. In the light of the times—in the light of the promised return of our glorious Lord Jesus—let’s be encouraged to live as God’s word tells us to toward one another; all so that He gets all the glory!

EA