Thoughts on 1 Peter - Day 16

                           
                                  1 Peter 3:17-22


For it is better, if it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. ¹⁸ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. ¹⁹ After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits— ²⁰ to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, ²¹ and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, ²² who has gone into heaven and is at God’s right hand—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him

    This passage has three main players, Noah, Jesus,  and you and me. Never thought you would be mentioned in the same breath, huh? These three characters have a similar problem, a similar plight,  and a similar - looking for a"p" here - promise (future would have probably been better).

      Let's take Noah. First of all his problem was that he was building an ark to save whoever would believe that the earth was about to be destroyed by a flood,  and no one was believing. In fact they were mocking . They thought he was a fool building a monstrosity for years when no one had ever seen rain before.  Yet he was right.  Only 8 believed and they were his family. He faced the plight of death yet lived through it because of God's promised deliverance. He got to live in a brand new world because he believed God, boldly told the truth,  and lived a  life of obedience demonstrating his faith.

         Then there was Jesus.  His problem was that He came to tell the world that mankind was sinful and judgement was coming but deliverance was here, and like Noah, only a handful believed.  In fact just like in Noah's case, they mocked Him and called Him mad. He faced death and was delivered from it through the resurrection - where incidentally their two stories intersect as Jesus,  while in the dominion of death for three days says to all those Noah mockers, oh by the way, you should have listened to Him. Jesus' promise was a throne in Heaven seated at the right hand of the Father.

   Lastly there is us. We are to tell an unbelieving, mocking, politically correct, secularized world that Jesus is the only way to deliver them from the impending plight of death, judgement and eternal separation from God in a place called Hell, due to the fact that we all have sinned and fallen short of His glory. How many have believed our message? Generally only a very small number. It is easy to be discouraged and give up until we realize that we have two that have gone ahead of us with the same results and they didn't give up. And here our story intersects with the previous two. Someday, we will meet Noah in Heaven and worship Jesus forever. In fact, we are Jesus' promise. We are His bride.

      Let's not get discouraged when few believe, when we are mocked, when we face difficulties and life is a toil. Remember Noah and Jesus. We have been included in good company. Don't give up. There will be a few who believe and there is a promise awaiting for us that makes it all worthwhile.

       Lord, I've often been beat down in witnessing by the lack of results. Help me to not grow weary but keep casting the seed knowing that somewhere out there is fertile soil. Keep my eyes focused on the prize. Amen