Apply as Directed

“Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish, and at peace” (v14).

If you don’t use something in the way it was designed, it won’t work correctly. Let me give you an example. I can’t expect sunscreen to protect me if put in my hair and not on my skin. Toothpaste in my ears won’t clean my choppers. My car won’t shine if I put the wax on the tires instead of the body. I must follow the instructions. Uh oh, I may have just lost every dude who’s reading this. But we know it’s true. You must use the product properly. That’s what the Apostle Peter is doing here in these closing verses of his second letter. He’s telling us what to do with what he’s written. He’s getting to the instructions. 

Rocky starts kicks things off by reminding us of every mind-blowing blessing given us by God. We can have an intimate and personal relationship with Jesus because of all that He’s done for us (1:3-11). He’s warned us of a scheming team of false teachers who tear apart churches from the inside with their twisted message (2:1-22). And He’s let us know that these trash talkers may make Jesus and His Second Coming a punchline, but in the end He will return to punish evil and reward His people (3:1-13). As Pete lands the plane, he lets us know what to do with all that truth. He gives us instructions. In this case, he's talking about our spiritual complexion. If we want to get rid of those pesky pimples and blackheads in our lives, we need to apply God's truth. He tells us how to apply what he’s told us. If we don’t follow the directions, this truth won’t have the intended effect in our lives.

Let’s apply as directed.

We know that the former fisherman is coming to the application because he uses the term “therefore” (v14). You know the old saying, whenever we see the word “therefore,” we need to ask, “What is it there for?” In this case, Pete wants us to think back on what he’s written about all that our gracious God has done for us, the big con of the spiritual snake oil salesmen, and Jesus’ big comeback. That’s your context. That’s your background. That’s what it’s there for.

And don’t blow right past the term of endearment for Peter’s readers. “Beloved” (v14). This is the third of four times he’s called them by this nickname in this closing chapter. It’s from the same root word as agape. This means so much more than a warm fuzzy we might have for somebody. This is love expressed. This is love that does. He wants them to know just how much he loves them. The apostle has expressed his great love for these folks on numerous occasions. He’s personally carried the message of Jesus’ amazing love to them in Asia Minor. He then wrote a heartfelt letter to encourage them to keep following Jesus even when the world makes them an unfair target (1st Peter). And now he’s writing a second note warning them of a this nasty team of con artists (2:1-3). More important than Pete’s love for these people, he wants them to know that Jesus loves them. They matter to Him. He died for them. He rose for them. Do you know just how much Jesus loves you? Do you know that you matter to Him? You’re “beloved” (v14). The first application is to remember that Jesus loves you.

Apply as directed.

Rocky reminds us that we’re still expecting Jesus’ encore. We’re “waiting for these” (v14). “These” are God’s guarantee of “new heavens and new earth” Pete just told us about (3:13). The Greek verb here is prosdokao. This is the third time he’s dropped this word in three verses. It literally means to be looking forward. There’s tension. There’s expectation. The question isn’t if but when it will happen. Jesus’ followers are on the edge of their seats looking forward to His spectacular return. His readers were waiting. They were expecting. And we’re still waiting. And expecting. 

While we’re waiting, here’s what we should do. “Be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish” (v14). The word for “be diligent” in the original text means to do your absolute best. Spare no effort. Work hard. Hold nothing back. Do it now and give it everything you’ve got. He’s calling us to take our sin very seriously. Do I really hate the crap in my life or am I just managing it? Pete pushes me to get my act together. When Christ comes back, do I still want to be covered in the same slime as when He saved me?

This is in HUGE contrast to those filthy false teachers who leave churches in a big steaming pile. The apostle calls them “blots and blemishes” (2:13). In his prequel, Pete pleaded with us to remember what it cost God to save us, “the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot” (1Pet 1:19). In the end, Jesus takes our garbage and gives us His holy perfection (2Cor 5:21). We don’t have to clean ourselves up. We don’t make ourselves “without spot or blemish” (v14). He’s already done that for us. We just simply need to live what we are. As Tullian Tchividjian so often says, the key to our sanctification is to remember our justification. In other words, the best way to be spotless is to remember that in Christ I am spotless. At the big finish, we’re going to be just like our Savior. Stainless. Blameless. Don’t be like those con artists! Be like Jesus!

Apply as directed. 

Pete concludes this verse by telling us to make it a priority to be “at peace” (v14). The peace described in the Bible is so much more than the lack of war and fighting. Sure, it is that. But that’s just a sliver of this incredible idea. It all goes back to the wonderful Hebrew word shalom. It paints the amazing picture of life as it should be. Everything in running in perfect rhythm. We’re at peace with each other. And that’s because we’re at peace with Jesus. We’re at peace with Him because we have absolutely no reason to fear His return. When we place our trust in Him, Jesus has already taken the punishment and judgment on our behalf. So when He returns to drop the hammer on sin and evil, we have nothing to worry about. We’re at peace.

So when Jesus comes back, I really want my spiritual complexion to be clear. To make sure those that ugly acne of my sin is gone, I need to apply His righteousness, not mine.

Apply as directed.