"We Don't Have to Struggle"

Why Not Struggle?

Let's begin this study by looking at what 2Peter says about the person who does not struggle. In verse four of chapter one it says that whoever is sharing in the divine nature; the Godly growth, getting free from the decay of the world and the things forbidden.

2Peter 1:4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Then let's look at verse eight,

2Pe 1:8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Peter says that you will not be barren or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord! This is so important to take note of because we cannot be sharing in the divine nature (Godly growth) and be barren and unfruitful!

Let's look at the Greek definition for these two words. The word barren first of all means "inactive, useless or lazy" and the word unfruitful in this verse means "barren or just as it says, unfruitful". In what way? " In the knowledge", which in the Greek dictionary means the following,

epignōsis
ip-ig'-no-sis
From G1921; recognition, that is, (by implication) full discernment, acknowledgement: - (ac-) knowledge (-ing, -ment).

How can we not struggle if we don't have the discernment of the Lord Jesus Christ to know which way we should go when we come to temptation(the forbidden things)? How will we ever understand if we don't even recognize the forbidden(temptation) when it comes our way? That's what it's like without being partakers in the divine (Godly) nature (growth or disposition). How can a person control themselves when they are growing in their human (fleshly) nature (growth) instead of Divine (Godly) nature (growth).

Let's look at verse nine now,

2Pe 1:9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins.

Peter says here that anyone that doesn't have the promises of God and are not partakers in the divine nature and do not have faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness and charity; they are blind and cannot see afar off.

You may be wondering why Peter said it like this. I thought if someone was blind they couldn't see at all, but this is not speaking of our eyes; it is refering to our minds. Without these things in your life, you are blind mentally. I want to share the Greek definition for the word "blind" used in this verse.

tuphlos
toof-los'
From G5187; opaque (as if smoky), that is, (by analogy) blind (physically or mentally): - blind.
Then what does it mean when it says we cannot see afar off? The Greek definition describes it as a blinking that doesn't allow you to see distinctly.

Can you imagine trying to see something dangerous up ahead and no matter how hard you try you cannot make it out until it's too late?

I spent some time in Louisiana one summer and worked on a shrimp boat out in the bayous. It was an expeience I will never forget but I also have a lasting memory of the times traveling at night there when the torrential rains would come and no matter how hard I tried I couldn't clearly see the road ahead. It would send me into a panic when another car was coming toward me because I knew that they couldn't see well either and we may just collide if we weren't able to distingish where the center line was! I hated those times because people would usually have accidents and there were fatalities. They would be speeding out of control on a water covered highway that led from Sulpher to Holly Beach without the ability to clearly see and many times on the weekend their minds would also be clouded by the alcohol thay had been drinking at the beach.

The ones who fell victim to the circumstances had eyes that were clouded by the rain, just as our minds can become victims of temptation if we have minds that are clouded by the lack of faith in God and lack of the knowledge that God gives us.

Lastly in the end of this verse, he says that those who lack these things also has forgotten that he was purged of his old sins. What is that all about?

It basically means that the person who lacks these things will not remember that he was forgiven for the past offences and will feel guilty due to his mental blindness and the deceiving message that satan feeds our minds when we are not growing in the things of God.

Are you carrying guilt and a feeling that you do not deserve the forgiveness of your past offences? Are you finding yourself having trouble seeing the road ahead when temptation comes your way? Are you seeing life in a smoky haze and just focusing on the surface and not the full picture? Hows your fruit doing? Do you feel like you have become lazy and useless in your walk with God?

If so, it is really not to hard to understand! It is faith you need! You really need not feel hopeless as satan would like you to feel and forgetting that you have been forgiven from your past! I have been there before and I know how it feels. Please, have faith and accept the knowledge of the Lord today if you find yourself falling under the fog of satan! You'll never regret walking away from the things that bring decay and death to take on the things in your life that bring growth and life!