Forgiven Forget

But he uses these harsh words to draw out the strong contrast between the family of God, and the family of sin. Two families, and two very different worlds.

The amazing news for all of us trapped in the grimy, bitter, dissatisfying life of the family of sin is that there is a way out - escape is possible.

Through Jesus' death, all who trust in him can be "born out of" the family of sin, and "born again" into the family of God. It's a complete transfer - in Jesus our family has changed, our destiny has changed, our whole world has changed.

So Peter tells the Christians to look back on that past life when they "lived in ignorance" so that they might get going living their new life, living with eyes open, with a new wonderful Father God.

This offer of a family transfer, made possible by Jesus, is free to all. So why don't all take it?

Peter's answer: it's hard to see clearly when you're living in ignorance. Your perspective is totally warped and distorted.

Ignoring Jesus' offer of a "born again" life in the family of God to carry on in sin is like the boy at the buffet who fills himself up on stale bread rolls and watery soup, because he hasn't spotted the feast laid out on the next table.

It's like the caterpillar who is afraid to make a cocoon for himself because he doesn't know about the beautiful transformation into a butterfly that lies ahead.

It's like the man who is too busy to open a letter informing him that he has just inherited a fortune.

When it comes to Jesus, don't be ignorant, and don't ignore.

Wisdom tells me:

What
I
Should
Do to
Obey
More

We don't try to obey to impress God. We don't obey to earn his love or respect. Obeying God can only follow having seen God, having glimpsed his goodness. Only having seen his and trusted in him, will we 'believe in his commands'. Only when we love him, will we love the path he has marked out for us.

And so wisdom, given by God, is like a flashlight. In the dark, it's not only impossible to see the path ahead, but it's also impossible to see the map. You can't see where you're going, and you can't see where you're supposed to be going!

Wisdom shines like a flashlight. With a flashlight we can see both the map, and the path ahead. With wisdom, we can understand God's commands - his living Word, the Bible - and also see how it relates to our life.

But it is only God who can give us the light of wisdom. We need him to teach us his knowledge, and good judgment.

The Bible says the world around is us in darkness, the darkness of sin. Sin is being blind to God, it's like putting your hand over your eyes and saying "I can't see God, so why should I believe in him?" There's lots of people wandering around saying "I don't need God, I'm going to live life without God." The world is in darkness. The world has shut it's eyes to God.

Yet, when we run into trouble, where do we go for advice? Quite often we go to these people with their hands over their eyes. We're constantly absorbing advice from TV, from our friends. It's like asking people in the dark for directions.

If we listen to the advice from people around us, then we'll start to think like they think. God will get pushed to one side - he'll become a private belief, a hobby, rather than someone to follow, someone to give your life to. His way will seem boring and restricting, instead of being the best way to live.

Go to God for your advice, go to God for wisdom, ask him for knowledge and good judgment. His way is the best way, and he is the best guide.

If you're not convinced, look at Jesus. God's wisdom is seen most clearly in Jesus. Jesus is wisdom - What I Should Do to Obey More - fleshed out. Jesus took advice from one person - God the Father. He chewed over the wisdom in the Bible, he prayed to God daily for more wisdom. The Bible says Jesus learned obedience. That doesn't mean he ever disobeyed God - he was perfect. Rather he didn't stop learning to obey the Father more fully - his thinking was always "What should I do to obey more?" rather than "What can I get away with?"

We need to ask God for wisdom. Without wisdom we'll be stuck in the dark, unable to connect the map of God's way, with the path ahead - we'll be unable to connect God's living Word with our daily life.