02-15-08 According To His Great Mercy

Last week our study of 1^st Peter

took us through Peter’s opening words to us in the first two verses

of this tremendously encouraging letter.

If you’ve been with us the past few weeks

you will remember that this was a letter

written by Peter to his fellow Christians

for the purpose of encouraging them during some very difficult times.

They, like all of us,

began their thinking each day strictly on the human plane.

By that I mean that they looked at their physical circumstances,

and at the things going on in the society around them,

and especially at the way those things were impacting their own lives

and then they tried to cope with what they saw there.

We do the same thing in our lives today.

In fact in some ways it’s even harder for us

because we now start our days in this culture

with the worst of the world situation piped right into our homes.

We turn on the radio,

or the TV,

or log onto our preferred news web site

and instantly have the greatest tragedies,

or disasters,

or failures in the world during the past 24 hours

shoved in our faces before we even leave the house.

A few of those disasters may impact us directly,

but even the ones that don’t

force us to relate emotionally to what we see and hear.

We find ourselves hurting for those we cannot help

and angry at those who caused their pain,

knowing there is nothing we can do personally to change the situation.

2000 years ago those Christians who first read this letter from Peter

lived in a very difficult world indeed,

a world that was at times bent on the destruction of all things Christian,

even to the point of killing some of those who identified themselves with Christ.

And even though our current society, at least here in the U.S.,

is not killing Christians,

still we, too, live in a world in which our allegiance to our King

makes us profoundly out of step

with the culture around us.

And then added to that

are all those consequences that come with living in a society

that has no moral base.

In the past six months

we’ve seen our nation, and in fact much of our world

victimized by the greed and dishonesty and irresponsibility

of men and women in key positions

who allowed their lust for money and power

to be the overpowering factor in the choices they made.

And we now suffer from some of the consequences of their sins.

And with us, just as with the 1^st Century Christians,

trying to find a solid basis for hope and security

through looking at the world around us

is simply not an option.

By the way, does that trouble you?

Times like this are uncomfortable, of course -

sometimes intensely uncomfortable.

But underlying the discomfort

there is something very healthy about times like this for the people of God.

It forces us to remember the truth -

the truth that when we are seeing things most clearly

we know that there is only One thing in our life that will not change,

One foundation upon which we can build without fear -

our King Jesus Christ.

And times like this

sometimes force us to remember

what can be trusted

and what cannot.

But Peter writes this letter

for the purpose of giving his fellow Christians the truth we need

for effective living in a world system that is not working at all the way we want it to work.

As we’ve looked at Peter’s opening comments

we’ve seen him begin his communication with us

by offering us the essential truths

that provide a framework for everything else he wants to say to us.

The first truth is one we know within our spirits,

but one our minds often try to ignore.

But Peter knows that unless we will face it honestly

and understand its implications in our lives

we will repeatedly set ourselves up for both disappointment and pain.

In his opening words he tells us

that we “... reside as aliens...” in this world.

This is the only world available to us right now,

the one in which we are called to live out our walk with the King.

But we should have no illusions about the nature of our relationship with the world system around us.

Our goals,

our moral values,

our priorities,

our world view as sons and daughters of the King

will not fit well with the society in which we live.

And frequently

who we are

and what we know to be true

will create tremendous tension between us and the world around us.

That’s where Peter starts his comments to us

because he wants us armed with the truth about the way things really are.

But that’s not were he stops.

The next thing he says

is that, even though we do not fit well in the world system around us,

we do fit perfectly with our God.

In fact he talks in some detail

about our relationship with all 3 members of the Godhead,

telling us that we were specially chosen by God the Father,

a choosing based upon His perfect knowledge of us and the high value He places on us,

and that God the Spirit was well pleased to take on the project of rebuilding our lives,

and our King, Jesus Christ, gives His moment-by-moment leadership to our lives

while continually covering our sins with His own blood.

It’s an arrangement between us and our God

that simply screams His love for us and delight in us,

one that led Peter to then assure us that grace and peace are yours in fullest measure.

Now, that’s where we stopped in our study last week,

but it’s definitely not where Peter stops in the good things he has to tell us

about what’s going on between us and our God.

Keep in mind that one of Peter’s key reasons for writing this letter

is to help us to cope with what’s going on right now in our lives.

Before we finish this letter

we’ll see him get very practical

as he instructs us on how to make it through the chaos and turmoil and pain around us.

But before he turns his attention to our immediate situation

he first lifts our eyes up and points at what’s coming our way in the future.

And before we see what he says,

please let me emphasize

that he doesn’t do this as if to say that what’s happening here and now doesn’t matter.

He knows all too well

that it matters very much indeed.

He’s not saying we should try to ignore what’s going on in our lives right now,

but rather he wants us to realize

that knowing what’s coming

is an absolutely essential part of being able to cope with what we face right now.

Have you ever watched a cross country race on those trails up at Skyview High School?

I watched several of them this past fall

and I noticed something fascinating about the layout of the course.

That course is laid out in such a way

that you can see the runners passing several times throughout the race.

The first time you see them, of course, is at the very beginning.

All of them look strong and fiercely competitive

and they all give the impression that they could run effortlessly for hours.

But there is another place where they come into view about 15 or 20 minutes later

and what you see when they pass that point

is a whole different world.

Their once neat, tidy uniforms now hang on them soaked with sweat,

and you can easily hear the desperate sounds of their breathing

as they gasp for air.

But what you notice more than anything else is the shear agony on their faces,

and if what you saw at that point was all there was

you couldn’t help but wonder why any sane person would ever keep going.

But when those runners come around the corner at that point in the race,

packing all that pain and utter exhaustion,

if they glance over to the left

they can see the finish line.

They can see where they’re headed

and, even more, they can see why they’re doing what their doing.

They’re not there yet.

In fact, there is still one more long, pain-filled hill ahead of them

before they loop around and come down across the finish line.

But at that point, even though they’re not there yet, they can see it

and because they can see it

a remarkable thing happens - they begin running faster,

there is a noticeable increase in their speed.

Seeing the end of the race

gives them the courage to endure the pain.

That’s the best way I could think of

to explain to you why Peter does what he does next in his letter.

Because what he does next

before he says anything to us about the pain,

or the turmoil,

or the agony we may be in right now,

is to give us a vivid picture of the end of the race.

He wants us to know with absolute certainty

where we’ll end up

and what’s waiting for us when we get there.

Then, and only then, is he ready to talk with us

about what’s going on in our lives today.

And what he says is this:

1PE 1:3-5 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

OK, there is a great deal going on in these three verses,

and I don’t want us to miss what’s really being said.

Peter begins with an outburst of praise and gratitude to God the Father

and in that outburst attributes to God the Father

what he calls “great mercy”.

Now, he goes on to tell us how that great mercy is expressed,

but before we go there

let me just remind us of the roots of this explosion of praise.

One of the things that makes Peter’s letters so powerful

is that we know so much about his life.

This will take us a little off track,

but I think it’s worth it

because it’s going to make it a whole lot easier for us to trust what Peter says to us.

You see, Peter understood the mercy of God

because Peter had seen himself

and he knew how desperately he needed that mercy.

Peter understood brokeness,

the kind of brokeness that comes

from having seen himself honestly apart from his God.

And I think it’s worth our time

to let Peter describe for us

the events that brought that brokeness into his life.

To do so

we need to back up to the night of Jesus’ arrest,

just a few hours before His crucifixion.

There’s a sham of a trial going on,

a trial in which the enemies of Christ

are looking for grounds for His execution.

And witnessing these events is the great Simon,

tower of strength,

leader of men,

the self-proclaimed head of the followers of Jesus.

If he were to tell you in his own words about the events of that night

I think this is what he would say.

I hoped I could keep to the shadows and not be noticed. I could see John a few paces ahead of me, walking into the courtyard. As I approached the gate, I attempted a casual nod to the servant girl, who nodded in return as I passed. Then, just as I passed by her, she raised her head in apparent recognition and said, “You were with Jesus too weren’t you! You’ re not one of this man’s disciples, are you?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about, woman. I don’t know him!”

The words were out of my mouth in an instant. I tried hard to look incensed at her accusation, but I could feel the little beads of sweat forming on my forehead. A puzzled expression crept across her face, but she said no more. I kept my eyes fixed on her until she dropped her gaze to the ground, and I slipped past her and into the courtyard.

“I don’t know him . . . I don’t know him . . . I don’t know him.” Had I really just spoken those words? I told myself it was simply a necessary deception so that I could keep close to the Master and watch for another opportunity to free him. That’s the way of the flesh, of course. The flesh always has a reason, an explanation for its failure. But no explanation could free me from the anguish I felt in the pit of my stomach.

From a distance I could see the high priest and the other officials gathered around Jesus, asking him questions and discussing among themselves. John had positioned himself so that he could hear what was being said. The night was growing cold, and a number of the guards and household slaves were standing around a fire kindled in the center of the courtyard. My clothes were soaked with sweat, and I stood shivering alone in the shadows for a few minutes. Then I moved up closer to the fire, hoping for some warmth. One of the maids brushed by me, bringing another load of wood for the fire. She looked up to excuse herself, then suddenly went silent when she saw my face. She dropped her wood on the fire, then turned and spoke to one of the guards. He in turn looked at me and spoke first to those gathered around the fire and then to me. “This man was with Jesus! You’re one of them too!”

“I am not!” This time it was obvious my denial did not convince my accusers. But since they had apparently received no specific orders concerning Jesus’ disciples, they said no more. As soon as they turned their attention once again to the fire in front of them, I slipped back into the shadows and edged my way cautiously closer to those gathered around Jesus.

I located John in the crowd and stood at his side. We could hear everything being said, and my height gave me a clear view of Jesus and his accusers. For some considerable time we stood there, watching, listening, discussing quietly between ourselves, as witness after witness brought lies against the Master. It was obvious what they wanted. Somehow, somewhere they would find “legal” grounds for executing their prisoner.

After more than an hour, as we stood there in helpless agony, I suddenly felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to face a man who appeared to be wrestling with some intense emotion.

“Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?” His accusation caused all those in our immediate area to turn and look at me.

At first I tried to make my denial sound casual and disarming. “No, of course not. Don’t be ridiculous!”

“No, you’re lying! That was my brother’s ear you cut off. Your Galilean speech gives you away.” Then he turned to those around us and said, “This man was with him! He’s a Galilean too .”

The explosion that erupted from within me burst forth with such violence that it caused even the high priest himself to stop midsentence and look in my direction. “Listen, you little fool! I don’t know that man!” As I spoke, I stretched out my arm in Jesus’ direction and punctuated my words with a jabbing index finger. “I don’t have anything to do with him, do you understand? I don’t know him. I don’t want to know him. I couldn’t care less what happens to him. He’s no friend of mine, and I assure you that I’m no friend of his!” And then, just so there could be no misunderstanding, I finished my tirade with a string of profanity intended to make it clear to all that I shared nothing in common with this Galilean rabbi on trial for his life a few feet from where we stood.

I didn’t realize I’d been screaming until I heard the silence in the courtyard that followed. No one spoke. No one moved. I became aware of my arm, still suspended in midair, aimed at Jesus. The sound that finally shattered the oppressive stillness in which I stood was the sound that also marked the end of my life as I had known it. Somewhere in the distance a lone rooster crowed his declaration of an approaching dawn and at the same time announced my entrance into the darkest night of my life.

“This very night, before a rooster crows, you’ll deny me three times.” Jesus’ words surged into my consciousness.

I turned toward Jesus. Our eyes met, and in that meeting at last I saw myself. There was no hiding place left for me. So this was the great Simon Peter. This was the great leader of men. This was the great defender and guardian of the King.

Tears flooded up from deep within me. Agonizing sobs broke through my lips. Through blurred vision I shoved my way past those who blocked my exit and fled into the darkened street. I ran until at last I found some ancient, deserted alleyway, a place reserved for the filth and refuse of the city. Several curious rats squeaked their concern at my intrusion. It seemed a fitting place in which to live out the remainder of my existence—just another piece of worthless garbage in among the rest.

I sobbed my anguish until I could sob no more. Then at last I slept and in that sleep entered the only world in which I knew I could ever again find some measure of peace.

Well, that wasn’t the end of the story, of course.

But it was a crucial part of it

because it was the beginning of Peter’s discovery of the heart of His God.

And I’ve taken the time to read that this morning

not because we will all go through a point at which we deny our Lord,

but because there is within Peter’s experience

something that is truly universal

to all those who ultimately reach that point in their lives

where they proclaim along with Peter,

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy...

It is that point of helpless despair of the soul,

that point at which the great foundation pillars of our lives,

whatever they are,

have crumbled into dust and rubble.

I know that this is a terrible type of talk to give

because it utterly fails to provide you

with what you reasonably expect me to offer.

What you very likely expect me to offer

is some guidance in what you can do

in order to grow in your walk with the King.

And what I offer here

gives you none of that.

The truth is

that if you are still doing,

and the doing seems to be meeting the need,

then you are not yet at a point in your life

where anything I have to share this morning will make any sense.

But I know, too,

that in a group this size

there are some of you

who have felt the pillars of your life

beginning to give way.

And it is to you that I speak now.

It is very likely that right now

you feel as though your God has failed you utterly.

You have cried out to Him for help,

you have prayed,

you have searched His Word,

you have claimed every promise you know how to claim

in a frantic attempt to get Him to help you hold your world together

and it appears as though your God has not heard,

or simply doesn’t care.

What I offer you this morning is not an “answer”,

what I offer you is a sure and certain affirmation of hope.

What you think you need right now

is a God who will hold your foundation together,

a God who will keep those pillars in place.

But what your spirit really longs for

is not a God who will help you hold your crumbling foundation together,

it is a God who loves you enough

to allow your foundation to collapse,

and then who will step into your life at that level

and become your foundation for you.

It won’t feel like the one you’d built for yourself

because this new one brings with it

a desperate daily dependance upon the living realty of God.

Either He’s there,

and He cares

or there is no hope.

But once we get use to the feel of it

we’ll never go back to the old one ever again.

Peter understood what it was

to live every day of his life

broken before His Lord - not crushed...broken.

And because he understood what that was like

he is for us

the perfect guide through the very practical truths we need

for those times in our own lives

when our own foundations seem to be crumbling around us.

Well, I didn’t get near as far as I’d intended today,

but we’ll pick up our study right here next week.