Reverend Edet E. Umo, says glory of God makes the difference
GLORY OF GOD CAN’T RESIDE IN SINFUL LIVES – 2Pet 1:4
By Rev. Edet E. Umo
“This grandeur (Glory) of God gets better in a life of deeper devotion, service and love for God. This glory can’t reside in a life of sin such as nepotism, immorality, robbery, character deformation, deceits among other social vices”
A notable singer of many generations, a king, a priest and to a large extent, a prophet declares in one of his numerous, popular works, “Behold, I was sharpen in iniquity; And in sin did my mother conceive me” – Psalms. 51:5
This, thus portrays the depravity in every human kind – a state which is in constant contradiction with God’s purpose for us; a state wherein corruption is synonymous to the world as well as its impending danger which is eternal damnation and social condemnation. No one person in this depraved state can please God or go to Him after our sojourn here on earth. Hence, the dare need to partake in His Divine Nature – 2 Peter. 1:4.
Contrary to the aforementioned state of mankind, one of the natures of God is that He is glorious. Apostle Paul states that when we are in God, we become like Him and move from glory to glory— 2Cor. 3:18. This glory is the weight splendour and magnificence of God. This grandeur of God gets better in a life of deeper devotion, service and love for God. This glory can’t reside in a life of sin such as nepotism, immorality, robbery, character deformation, deceits among other social vices.
The human nature on the other hand is the sum total of qualities which make an individual whom he or she is. It is an individual’s character (inherent) which constitutes his or her personality. The Scripture points out that every human being is born with Adam’s nature (which is sinful) and has a natural beat towards pleasing self. The Adam’s nature is dominated by the flesh which Romans 8:8 says cannot please God. This sinful nature stops us from fellowship with God, keeps us in bondage to sin and eventually leads to spiritual death – Romans 6:16. Pitiable enough, it is very real and true that we cannot free or save ourselves from sin and its consequences if we continue to abide in the flesh, therefore, we need the nature divine.
Everything we need for life and godliness has been given to us BUT only in Christ Jesus in whom there is sufficient blessings and grace for any believer’s growth towards God’s nature. God’s nature is love, purity and holiness. It can be attained only when one believes in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God and Saviour of the world. When anyone believes in Christ Jesus, he or she is saved – Acts 16:31. The believer, hereafter, undergoes a spiritual transformation. This is what Apostle Peter means by saying: “We are made partakers of His divine nature.” This implies that we become new creations in Christ – 2Cor. 5:17; we are born again – John. 3:3; we are in Christ – Romans. 8:1; we are dead to sin and the life we now live is Christ’s; we are no longer enslaved to sin and the passions of flesh; we are given power to overcome temptations; we are made parts of the family of God. When these happen, one (who believers in Christ) rises above the sinful desires of the flesh and escapes the world’s decay cum God’s impending doom. As a partaker in His divine nature, the person has the indwelling of the Holy Spirit and becomes one with Christ. The divine nature speaks or manifests when a street girl becomes a lead vocalist in church, a chain smoker becomes a fisher of men and a club fighter turns a counsellor. In a nutshell, there comes a vast contrast between the old me and the new me; about a three hundred and sixty degree turn. Yes! But is it that cheap?
Peter, therefore, advises that faith alone is not enough; diligence is essential, virtue should be added, knowledge (in the word) is needed, temperance is important, patience – a necessity, godliness is mandatory, brotherly kindness is a matter of compulsion and charity – inevitable. He says that where these abound, the evidence is stability, fruitfulness, growth and sustenance in the divine nature – 2 Peter. 1:5-7 which will affect our socioeconomic and socio-political engagement. We will no longer react to issues from a parochial point of view, nor will we be constantly insular based on region, religion, political and or ethnic/tribal sentiments, but on what is right.
This then calls for deliberate checks and balances. It calls for us to watch and pray lest ye fall into temptation – Matt. 26:41 because “He that lacketh these things (the aforementioned attributes that can sustain the divine nature) is blind, and cannot see afar off (eternity), and had forgotten that he or she was purged from his or her old sins.
Reverend Edet E. Umo sent in this piece from Abuja, Nigeria