2. Pilgrimage to Paradise: More on the Destination

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Here's where we are going as we travel through 1 Peter:

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go on from strength to strength till each appears before God in Zion. —Psalm 84:5-7

Here's the next part of how we are going to get to our destination:

I recently embarked on an archiving course. In preparation I bought a few books that looked like they might help me navigate my way through something I know very little about. I also confess that keeping track of important things in my life is not something I do well and I can certainly use some guidance on how to do a better job at that.

One author used a fascinating illustration when discussing how vital it is to keep track of the important stuff. Apparently someone at NASA erased a huge chunk of the original video that had been taken during the first moon landing and the famous "first step for mankind" in order to reuse the tape for something else! When it came to celebrating the event later the space agency had to borrow copies of the video from the media.

Doing due diligence when it comes to the important things in life seems obvious.

And Peter wanted his readers to do that due diligence. As he writes his first letter to those pilgrims scattered abroad because of persecution, the apostle begins by reminding them of what is absolutely the most important thing in their lives.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-5)

Two points here:

1. Secure the destination. A pilgrim, by definition, is one taking a journey to a holy place. It's important to be sure that you are on that path to begin with. Peter reminds his readers of what they have believed, the faith they have placed in Christ, the new birth and the living hope that was purchased at the cross and guaranteed at the tomb. These pilgrims, as all believers should, are to rejoice in that gift of God, the forgiveness of their sins, that has opened the gate of heaven and secured a place at that final destination. 

2. Remember the destination. Peter doesn't linger on what these pilgrims have lost because of persecution, though he does mention the ultimate end of all things. There is nothing in this life that doesn't die, spoil, or fade. These believers may have lost everything else, but salvation and the heaven it secures could never be lost, stolen, or damaged. They were to keep their eyes on what they couldn't lose rather than focussing on what they had lost, or might lose. They were to set their hearts on Zion, on heaven, and live out their journey with that holy place in mind.

Unhappily it is all to easy for us to lose track of the most important thing in life. It is also too easy to "pull a NASA" and erase from our memories what is most important because we want to hang onto something less important.

Life is a journey made up of many things, including rest areas, detours, potholes, sharp curves and pileups. It's easy to forget the destination when dealing with the hazards of the drive. Remember where you are going—heaven—and don't forget what happened to made it possible for you to get there—Calvary.

Note to the Reader:

Need to know if you are on the right path that will get you to Heaven? Let me help: twolatincats@gmail.com