Advent Perspective – 1 Peter 4:7-11

Elect exiles will endure as they live in light of absolutes and ultimates. The unchanging truths of the gospel serving to bring the Lord maximal glory will provide ballast stones in the hull of the believer's vessel stabilizing him even through the roughest seas. Traditionally this time of year corresponds with the closing of the 'advent season'. Advent means coming, arrival, fulfillment, appointed time... the culmination of the purposes and direction of history. Peter incorporates advent language in this section of his epistle when he prefaces his summary admonition with the phrase: “The end of all things is at hand”, In this way the apostle advocates an “advent perspective” not limited to a seasonal tradition but as an essential mindset for the faithful Christian in all of life and in every age. One commentator observes: “The tense of the imperatives in the Greek carries out the notion that the persons addressed had slipped into a careless state, from which they needed an arousal.” (Elicotts). An advent perspective is needed to wake up the church. These 5 verses serve as a 'parenthetical synopsis' – a summary of Peter's letter to the churches of Asia Minor in a few weighty sentences to reinforce them in the midst of trial. May we draw from the same well of endurance maintaining an advent perspective in our day as well...