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1 Peter 3:14
14 But [alla] and if [ei kai] ye suffer [pascho] for [dia] righteousness' sake [dikaiosune], happy [makarios] are ye: and [de] be [phobeo] not [me] afraid [phobeo] of their [autos] terror [phobos], neither [mede] be troubled [tarasso]; KJV-Interlinear
14 But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, NASB
This is the devils world. Nothing good will ever come out of this world. Only bad.
Therefore, forewarned, you will be the recipient of many difficult times in your life. Some may be as annoying as insect bites, others may be massively distressing. But not to worry, because your future is safe and intact in Christ.
What the world cannot do, is remove your spiritual life and blessings from you.
The world therefore becomes only a testing ground for the believer. It cannot define a destiny. It cannot control history. The world cannot manage anything, really. So the world has nothing to offer anyone.
Since the world cannot guarantee or articulate a destiny, its only purpose is to intimidate and destroy, if at all possible. And it does this by means of intimidation, distraction, and deception.
There are four sources of distractions and trouble – your own thoughts, other people, the bureaucracies of the world, and natural phenomena. And folks without doctrine will be totally inundated if not disillusioned by the world.
You will be hammered with things that are popular. Things in the media will hit you with tremendous repetition. The world has an endless array of enticements, and things to draw out your wants and desires.
On the other side of the coin, the world can hammer you with the most unfair of situations to exacerbate your fears and anxieties. The world can make you feel small and without control over your own life or destiny. The world can take from you and keep on taking, then toss you off to the side and forget you. For that is its purpose.
The world follows the pattern of Satan, which draws a future only for himself, at your expense. You will never be in Satan’s plans, not even the angels that followed him into rebellion are of any concern to him. He gladly sacrifices any and all, for his own advantage. And that is what the world has for you.
Isa. 8:12-13
12 ‘You are not to say, 'It is a conspiracy!' In regard to all that this people call a conspiracy, And you are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it.
13 ‘It is the Lord of hosts whom you should regard as holy. And He shall be your fear, And He shall be your dread. NASB
Matt. 5:10
10 ‘Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. NASB
But, you have one thing that the world does not, nor ever will have – a future in heaven.
The world is temporary and will soon cease to exist, and then it will be totally forgotten, by all who will live in heaven.
Therefore, align yourself with God, with Christ, with doctrine, with your spiritual life. And as Peter emphasizes here in this book, be obedient to your faith and God, and do not risk or compromise the wealth of your future, for something that is going to disappear from history.
