A Jot from John
As we travel the straight and narrow road toward heaven to find it strewn with stumbling blocks, and fraught with difficulty after difficulty. Jesus in his infinite wisdom knew the travel over the upward way was difficult and trying when he described the road to heaven in (Matthew 7:13-14). Knowing the frailties of man, Jesus promised the apostles that upon his return to heaven, He would send the Holy Spirit to guide them into all truth, (John 16:13), and this truth when followed implicitly guides one safely up the road of life toward heaven.
The Holy Spirit guiding the apostle Peter moved him to pen the message contained in the text of which we have been studying (2 Peter 1:5-11). This section contains what is often called the Christian graces, and is sometimes referred to as the ladder of upward growth. In many ways these “graces” may be similar to a ladder, but in another quite dissimilar. When one ascends a ladder he goes up one step at a time and leaves the lower one behind, not so in climbing this ladder or traveling this road toward heaven. One may acquire one of these “graces” at a time, but he can never leave the first or lower ones behind. They must be carried along with the traveler so that as the journey nears its end all these qualities in some measure can be found in his life. There is no hope for the child of God who has not tried conscientiously to make these qualities part of his daily living.
Nestled in the midst of these “graces” in 2 Peter 1, is the one urging temperance (i.e., self-control). Self-control is a universal problem for all men because we all find areas in our personal lives that are difficult to regulate. Whether at home with our families, in an intimate circle of friends, the worship assembly, or in a solitary place alone, we fight a battle with self in controlling thoughts, motives and actions. Through failure of controlling self adequately, one slips into habits that sometimes wrest control of both mind and body from the individual.
Unclean speech is an element that controls the lives of multitudes. Everywhere we turn we hear cursing, swearing and others forms of vulgarity besides the gossiping, talebearing, lying and other sins of the tongue. To be sure these actions are habit forming and finally seize all control from the tongue. It is a small member that cannot be tamed, (James 3:1-12), but it can and must be controlled. Unless we control the tongue, it will control us and cause our souls to be lost eternally. (Rev. 21:8).
Unless we are able to exercise self-control, we will not be able to glorify God in our bodies as commanded. (1 Cor. 5:19-20). Self-control prevents hysteria, fanaticism and overindulgence even in good things, and demands abstinence from hurtful things. It is acquired only through diligent effort – mere wishing does not work. If heaven is to be our home eternally, we must control ourselves at all times!
Onward Rejoicing, John B. Daniels, Associate Minister
