Your Best Life Now

I was taught the "2PROAPT" method of Bible reading. It's a little too complicated to explain here, but the core of this approach is "observe" and "apply". You know ... "What does it say?" and "What, then, should I do?" Good ideas. Indeed, even biblical. You can see it when you read something like 1 Peter 4.

Since therefore Christ suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves with the same way of thinking, for whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God. For the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do, living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this they are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you; but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead (1 Peter 4:1-5).

Notice the "Since therefore" statement at the start. "Because of these facts, you ought to ..." That's the idea. Observe the facts (Christ suffered in the flesh) and apply them. What is Peter's application of this fact? "Arm yourselves with the same way of thinking." What way of thinking? "Live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God."

Now, wait a minute! That can't be right. That can't be what Peter meant, can it? I mean, look, we all know that life is all about human passions. What else is there? What can be more important than to find your passion (seriously, look up that phrase and see the host of sources that tell you how to do it), to live life for all it's worth, to do what pleases you most. What else could there be??! It cannot be the case that Peter is finding fault with that kind of ... truth.

He is.

Consider that. If you believe that life is about your enjoyment, your pleasure, your comfort ... you ... then Peter says you missed the point. It is not about indulging your senses or fulfilling your longings. I mean, sure, we Christian's get that it's not about drinking, orgies, or parties. But Peter says it's not about you. What is life about? "The will of God."

Wow! That wasn't really on the radar, was it? I mean, don't most of us think, at the back of our minds, that it really is, deep down, about us? Didn't Jesus die for us? Doesn't God love us? Aren't we really the whole point? Even if we consciously voice an objection to the notion, deep down we seem to think otherwise. Why else would we become upset with God when things don't go our way?

Notice the promised response to anyone who chooses not to view life as "all about me". "They are surprised when you do not join them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you." You can see why, I'm sure. I mean, what could be more natural than to pursue "your best life now"? Except that God says pursuing His will is the point, not your pleasure. And isn't that indeed the response you see?

How would that change things for you? What would a life lived in pursuit of God's will over your own pleasure and comfort look like? We ought to consider such things because, after all, "they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead." That's not an accounting that anyone can stand up to. We're counting on the blood of Christ; we ought also to live up to His death because "whoever has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin." And that's where Peter started, wasn't it? So what does Peter say is your best life now? That would be to set aside pursuits of pleasure and comfort in favor of the full-time pursuit of God's will. That is the best you'll get.