“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2Peter 1:4)
Three great Christian principles are named in our Scripture. We have been given exceeding great and precious promises. We are partakers of the divine nature and have escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
When Peter wrote great and precious promises, he meant they were the greatest unimaginable gifts given to us. He also meant that these promises made to us were beyond value. They cannot be bought nor earned. We couldn’t do enough to earn them, nor could we ever have enough to buy them. That is the richness of our God. He is rich in mercy and love, Goodness and generosity, wisdom and knowledge.
There are 3573 promises made in God’s Word according to one account. All of God’s promises are yes and amen, for us and not against us. There is a promise for every need. God takes care of His children. He has already provided for our every need here on this earth. We can only think of the obvious ones, what to eat, drink and wear, healing, help and rescue. But God’s wisdom and knowledge has provided for those things we cannot imagine we’ll encounter here in this world, what we will fight in the flesh and what darts the devil will throw our way. They are treasures hidden in His Word. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.” (Matthew 13:44)
As we read God’s Word, we come across these nuggets of gold, priceless and so valuable to us. The man in the parable sold all he had for the treasure he found in the field. Likewise, we must sell all that we’ve accumulated in this world. They are nothing compared to God’s treasures. All our accomplishments, all our possessions and all our dreams are but the temporal treasures of this world that will perish with this world. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.” (1John 2:15-17)
Another thing Peter mentioned is that by these greatest and valuable promises we are partakers of God’s divine nature. This is hard for us to accept. We know what we’re made of. We know our daily struggles and failures. We rationalize, but God is not a liar. We can take comfort that we don’t know all about God’s work. But think about His Promises. They enable us to transcend the workings of this world against us, overcome the flesh and escape the darts of the devil. That is supernatural. That is divine. That is God’s promise to us.
Jesus conquered death for us. That’s a biggie. We will not die, but live eternally with our Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Our bodies will be resurrected just like the body of Jesus was lifted up and glorified. The Holy Spirit living in us enables us to live supernatural lives here on earth. How can we fail since we have God living in us, speaking continually with us, leading and guiding us, teaching us and correcting us. Pray for open eyes and ears to hear Him. Pray for obedience.
And it’s because of that divine nature that we have escaped the corruption of this world. This corruption is lust. It’s that lust that John mentioned, “...lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.” (1 John 2:16) It’s the desire and seeking of ease and comfort. It’s the desire to have all that looks good to us. It’s the pride of our accomplishments, as if we could have done anything without God. We have escaped all of that. Before we get all huffy about our possessions, we must realize the real purpose of abundance. “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich. And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: But by an equality, that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: that there may be equality: As it is written, He that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.” (2Corinthians 8:9-15) Paul talks to the Corinthians about an equality. Now we cannot share so that everyone is equal. That’s communism. But out of our abundance, we can give what others need. We don’t need two coats. We don’t need a closet full of shoes for every outfit. What are designer clothes, but pricey clothes we don’t need? Why do we have several vehicles? Is it really a necessity?
There’s still lots more packed into 2 Peter 1:4 when we meditate on it. We’ve barely scratched the surface. It’s the hidden treasure of God’s Word.
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