If you knew that death was at hand, what do you think your mind would be set on? What would be important to you? Unity among the believers was our Lord's concern when the cross loomed over His head. In John 17:20-21, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word, that they all may be one, as You Father are in Me, and I in You; that they may also be one in Us; that the world may believe that You sent Me."

Peter understood the tendency to become slack in service to God and the need to be aroused, awakened, or stirred up. He also understood his responsibility, as long as he lived, to remind others of the things of God. In 2 Peter 1:12-13, "For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you." When Peter's death was imminent, he had on his mind leaving a reminder to keep his brethren stirred up. He states in 2 Peter 1:14-15, "Knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you have a reminder of these things after my decease." Peter was confident that when he "put off his tent," he would be exiting this world for a better place. He could be confident because he knew that, while he was alive, he had done everything he could to instruct his brethren in righteousness.

Hebrews 10:24-25 reminds us that we also have this same responsibility, as long as we are in our tents, to stir up our brethren. "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more as you see the day approaching." Do we have the same confidence Peter had? Have we done everything we can? This tells us the Lord has no retirement plan. We must work until the day we die. Titus 2:14 tells us we must be "zealous for good works."

We are again warned in 2 Peter 3:17-18, "beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

What a wonderful example Peter set for us. However brethren, I am sometimes concerned that not enough of us are like Peter. Have we become slack in our service to God? Are we retired on the job? If not, could someone please tell me why the elders have to "beg" for Bible class teachers? Why does the Fishers of Men class remain unfilled? Why do the young people, who should be in Vacation Bible School class themselves, have to step up to the responsibility of teaching the classes? An older member of the congregation was overheard making the statement, "I've done my part by teaching for several years; let someone else take it over. I'm retired." Brethren, this attitude goes against what God expects from His servants. Let me ask you, what kind of a message does this send to our children? What message are we sending God? If we truly love the Lord, we can never retire from service to Him. God expects us to serve Him as long as we are in these tents, our bodies, as long as we live. Did God's Son retire before His work was done? He promised us a home with Him in heaven if we serve Him well and are found to be faithful stewards at the time we depart this life, 2 Corinthians 4:2.

How we serve our Lord is a matter of what matters to us, where we set our priorities. Jesus taught until He died on the cross, and He sent us the word through the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 3:9, "the Lord is not slack concerning His promises, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but all should come to repentance." What was important to our Lord should be important to us. We should be unwilling for any to perish.

Paul stirred up his brethren as long as he lived, and even made provisions for their remembrance after he was gone. 2 Timothy 4:6-8, "For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only, but also to all who have loved His appearing" Paul had the same confidence as Peter. His priority was to go to heaven and to take others with him. What is my priority, what matters to me? The apostle John, the only apostle who died a natural death, served the Lord throughout his life, and he is believed to have lived around 90 years. Do not be deceived, if we want to get to heaven, and take others with us, we too must make a lifetime commitment to serve the Lord. It must become our priority; it must be important to us, or we will not get there.

In 2 Peter 1:5-11, "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins. Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."

Shouldn't this be the goal for each and every one of us? To love the Lord, to be diligent and work for Him all the days of our lives, serving Him, and stirring up others to do the same. My goal is to stir up and encourage us all to be more like Peter and Paul and Timothy and John, and others who love the Lord; but especially, brethren, to be more like our Lord Jesus Christ. Our salvation depends on it. Do you love the Lord? Tell me my brother, what is important to you?

Brother Smith presents us with a very serious challenge. We all establish what is important in our lives. Sadly, if the truth be told, what we show is what matters most to us. Since I began preaching the gospel, I've tried to find a way to make people see what a serious commitment the Christian life is. God put us here to do some things, not just to "pass the time" until we die. I'm afraid that many of my brethren believe attending a few services, giving of their means, and taking the Lord Supper is "total commitment." God expects much more from His faithful children. Reminds me of the time I asked a fellow preacher about a friend's faithfulness. He replied "He's pretty faithful." What does that mean? Is that faithful enough for the Lord? Jim asks a thought-provoking question. Consider this thought. How would our Lord answer that question for us? For you see, He knows the true answer--doesn't He? --KG