Living In Comparison
1st Peter 1:1-6
It was raining hard, and had been all night. The roof of my tent was leaking, all my gear was getting wet, and I was cold. Yet, it was the most wonderful night I have had in a long time. For, on this day I would be packing up my gear for the last time, and redeploying home after more than 12 months. I could feel the blood pulsating through my veins every time I pictured holding my family in my arms. Nothing else about this day was praiseworthy, nothing else said "rejoice"; however, in comparison to what laid ahead, the rain seemed greatly insignificant. The cold suddenly became refreshing while all the days chaos took on an air of peace. I couldn't help but rejoice at every obstacle, and praise God for every challenge that came my way. The worse that this day had to bring was of no consequence to the best that soon awaited me. Peter tries to make a similar comparison to his readers when he wrote, "
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade – kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials (1st Peter 1:1-6)." Regardless of their trials, of having to live as strangers amongst their own people, Peter encourages them to focus on the blessings to come. Their persecutions were nothing in comparison to their future glory. This is a vital lesson for every believer. Compare your life to what you do not have and you will never be happy. Compare your life to others and you will always be disappointed; but compare your life to the future glory that will one day be yours through inheritance and your days will be abundantly filled with peace and satisfaction. This is our living hope (v. 3) and fills us with an inexpressible and glorious joy (v. 8). Now ask yourself, why is it that some people can always see the sun through the clouds, or find that one flower that stands alone in a field full of weeds? Why is it that some can hear a symphony through the myriad of bad notes, while others only hear noise? Those are the same people that can hear the birds singing through a traffic jam, and always seem to find that one familiar voice in a room full of strangers. For them, there is always a light at the end of the tunnel, a song in their hearts, and a reason to rejoice. Why, because they live their lives in comparison. Not in comparison to others, but in comparison to the inheritance and salvation born onto us, which will be revealed in the last days when Jesus Christ returns. In comparison to this, it was the greatest of rainy days. All my grays became vibrant, and my clouds picturesque. Let it rain, I said. Let it pour. In comparison to the sunny days to come this was only a sprinkle, and in comparison to our future glory one can hardly say it rained.
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Michael D'Urbano
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