So many times, I’ve heard people say, “I’m at the end of my rope.” Several years back someone used this caption and added, “when you’re at the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” Sometimes when we face hard times, it would be so easy just to give up. Especially when those hard times are dealt to us through our own family. I have never had to face adversity from my family for my faith, but I have known many who have. The flesh wants to say, “what’s the use?” Peter teaches us in the passage today that we need to have the resolve to keep pushing forward and not give up.
There will always be those who want to make it difficult for Christians, and we may suffer for righteousness’ sake. However, we should not be afraid. We should understand that Satan has his army, but we are not to fear. We are to keep our hope in the Lord and always be ready to give an answer to anyone who wants to know about the hope within us. When we face difficult circumstances, and we don’t crumble, others will notice. They will wonder how we handle things with grace and hope. This is the perfect opportunity to share Christ.
I Peter 3:13-15 “And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness’ sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”
There will always be those who make it their goal to put down anything that is of Christ. When they falsely accuse us, our conduct should prove them wrong. The greatest way you can fight against these evildoers is not to get in a tizzy and defend yourself, but to continue to do what is right. You should not argue with a fool, and he who fights against God is a fool. God, in His time, will bring the truth to light. He will fight your battles. All you need to do is live every day with your sole purpose to please Him.
I Peter 3:16-18 “Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing. For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:”
I Peter 3:19-22 “By which also he went and preached unto the spirits in prison; Which sometime were disobedient when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water. The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ: Who is gone into heaven and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto him.”
In I Peter 19-22, we have a passage that has baffled many, but when you boil it down, Jesus is proclaiming to all, that He is Lord of all and King of Kings. He proved His power over death, Hell, and the grave. There is no escape for those who seek to evade Jesus as ruler of all. He is now at the right hand of God. Angels, any authorities, and all powers are subject to Him. Peter reminds us that even those of Noah’s time had their opportunity to accept God, but they rejected him. Noah and his family were saved from the destruction of the flood because they placed their faith in God. He is not saying that water baptism saves us, but baptism into Jesus Christ. We are placed into the body of Christ by our faith, just as Noah was saved by his faith.
Hebrews 11:7 “By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.”
No matter what we may face here on this earth, God is working on our behalf. Our faith allows us to have a home in Heaven that is being prepared for us now. It took Noah over 120 years from the time God told him to build the ark until the floods came. Much mocking and jeering took place over that time period, but Noah continued to do the work of God. He did what God told him, the way God told him, and God saved him. We have been given the commission to stay faithful, no matter what comes our way. When things get tough, just keep on keeping on. There is coming a day when your faith will be in sight. You may have it rough, but not as rough as the saints of the Bible, nor of those who have given their life here for the cause of Christ.
