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2 Peter 1:8
8 For [gar] if these things [tauta] be [huparcho] in you [humin], and [kai] abound [pleonazo], they make [kathistemi] you that ye shall neither [ou] be barren [argos] nor [oude] unfruitful [akarpos] in [eis] the knowledge [epignosis] of our [hemon] Lord [kurios] Jesus [Iesous] Christ [Christos]. KJV-Interlinear
8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. NASB
These qualities refer to what we have been studying.
The quality of a genuine desire to learn about God, Christ, doctrine, your spiritual life and so forth. Your actual practice of studying, taking on the attitude that you are nothing and that God is everything. The formation of doctrine within your soul, which begins to change your attitude to toward God, toward people, toward yourself. The growth of tolerance within your character. Adopting Gods principles of truth for your life, rather than adopting the world’s opinions. Making doctrine and Gods principles and Gods plan for your life, your priority.
Note that these things have nothing to do with your doing anything. No crusades, no save the planet ventures, no do-gooder activities, no activist promotions.
When Peter rejected the idea that Jesus was to die, didn’t Jesus accuse him of satanic policies? ‘Get back Satan.’
Why did He say that? Because God has a plan and Satan has a plan and Gods plan was the cross, Satan's plan was to foil the cross. Peter was on the wrong side of Gods plan at that moment.
As for us, is it our objective to make this planet good for all of eternity, or for us to grow up in our spiritual life, made ready for the next life?
Is the destiny of this planet to be made into a garden of our choosing, or is it to become destroyed and eventually replaced?
What plan do you sponsor in your attitude and beliefs? Want to go out and cure all of the ills of the world, or do you want to get doctrine to everyone? Which would serve folks better?
You are a plant, which God has planted. He intends for you to bear fruit, to be productive, otherwise you are a worthless plant.
If you have a garden and have fruit plants in it, do you keep the unproductive plants? No. You remove them and make room for other productive plants.
And that is what God is looking for in His garden. You being the plant. He waters you with doctrine, and you either accept it or reject it. Plants that reject water, don’t produce and they eventually die and are discarded.
To be productive in Gods garden, you have only to desire the water, accept the water, learn from it and incorporate it into your life. That makes you productive in your spiritual life.
There is nothing said for going door to door and promoting Gods Word. There is nothing said about stopping wars, or hunger, or poverty, or making all the air clean, or making the planet green or any other color you might fancy.
You understand that this planet is heading for its worst series of disasters yet to come, when the Tribulation arrives. So all your efforts to transform humanity will never be successful. Never.
And even though you may try to change the world, if you stick with doctrine, then God will bring opportunities to you, for helping others. Others whom you will actually be able to help.
Production, spiritual production in your life, production which is real production and production that will last you forever, comes only through doctrine in your soul, utilized as God would have you use it. This is spiritual growth to maturity.
When you pursue Gods plan, you become useful and productive. Your life has meaning and purpose.
When you pursue your own plan, or the worlds plan, then you become useless and unproductive. Your life is nothing more than historical filler.
