Making it to the End
One year ago, I celebrated my birthday at Northern Colorado Rehabilitation Hospital. In the morning I had a doctor’s appointment with an EENT specialist to evaluate my trach stoma and other throat issues. Not the ideal birthday.
I have come along way since then. This morning I had the opportunity to share in the staff chapel at Timberline Church. Later Pastor Steve took me out to lunch. I navigated in the snow and the distances with my walker which is a far cry from one year ago. There is so much to be thankful for and this day provides a good “pause and ponder” moment for me on the journey to full recovery.
This morning I shared from a CaringBridge post that my daughter Stephanie wrote on November 10, 2013. It was the first time that I have read it. It won’t take the space to post it all but you may want to look it up.
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/kensummers/journal/view/id/527fdd0dcb16b45278d134cb
Here is the final paragraph that I found challenging and insightful.
As children, we have found our parents faithful to everything they would have hoped that they would be, if anything like this were to ever happen. Then, we also notice a generation behind us. These 6 grandchildren are forever changed by this experience. For their entire life, they will see a wheelchair as an invitation, not a barrier. They will see someone who is sick as a testimony, not a disease. And then I realize…..this nightmare just might lead us to our dreams! (Stephanie Munn, 11.10.2013)
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “…take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.” 2 Peter 3:17,18
As Peter writes this letter he is very much aware that this will be his final encouragement to believers. What we find is that Peter makes his purpose in writing clear…“This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord…” 2 Peter 3:1,2
Peter is reminding, encouraging and warning believers so that they will be growing in the Lord and will not be discouraged or caught in error as the return of the Lord draws near. In chapter one he talks about the “….precious and very great promises, [given by Christ] so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.” (2 Peter 1:4) Peter’s concern is the growth of Christian character.
He then warns believers of false prophets and teachers and is fairly descriptive of their character and the end in store for them. “They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions, while they feast with you. They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed.” (2 Peter 2:13)
As Peter closes the letter he assures believers that the Lord will come. Don’t confuse delay as failing to fulfill His promises. Keep your focus, keep your faith, remain stable. His admonitions remind me of the idea of “putting blinders” on a horse so the horse is not distracted in the race. Peter realizes that people will distort the truth and that false teachers and prophets will contradict what the Lord has spoken and promises.
Peter’s final admonition is to simply, “grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ…’ This almost reminds me of our theme during my hospitalization that we adopted from Gary Harkness, my physical therapist at McKee Hospital, “stay the course, keep your eyes on the cross.” I believe in many ways that is exactly what Peter is saying. That is good advice as we face the challenges of our day and endeavor to keep holding forth the Word of Truth.