Here we are at the gates of a new year. None of us knows what lies ahead. As I contemplate what the possibilities might be, the words of the Apostle Peter come to mind. He wrote, "Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. (2 Peter 3:1).
Wholesome thinking! That sounds like something to ponder at the outset of 2009. How do we approach this coming year with "wholesome thinking?" The words that Peter uses carry the sense of "pure minds" or "genuine" or "sincere" and he writes them to us "by way of a reminder". This reminding is something Peter is intent about. In chapter 1 verses 12 and 13 he wrote, "So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body …" Let’s take Peter’s reminder into this coming year and set our minds to some serious "wholesome thinking."
So, what is wholesome thinking? I think Peter would say that it is "right thinking" – thinking that is true. In the second verse of chapter 3 Peter wrote that we are to remember the Scriptures – both the Old and New Testaments – as we seek to set our thinking to what is right. He wrote, "I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles." As we head out into this New Year let’s be intentional about setting our thoughts on Scripture and thinking wholesome thoughts as a result of being saturated with God’s thoughts. As we spend time in God’s Holy Word we will find that we will begin to be able to think more clearly and accurately about what is wholesome and pure. Wrong or faulty patterns of thought will give way to how God views things.
A few verses down in that same chapter Peter describes people whose thinking has been distorted and false. "First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water." (2 Peter 3:3-5). Notice that the first area of wrong thinking that these people descend into is wrong thinking about the second coming of Jesus. Will Jesus come in 2009? We do not know but we are to be ready for him and part of the preparation we need to make is to ensure that our minds are full of wholesome thinking.
There may be things we will need to change in our lives so that we can think in a manner that is wholesome… right… pure…! So that we can think clearly.
Peter describes those people as scoffers who deliberately forget. In contrast, the kind of "wholesome thinking" of which Peter is reminding us involves a correct understanding of God, his character, his ways, his plans. It involves right thinking about Jesus – the Gospel message of Jesus’ birth, life, death, burial, ascension, resurrection and imminent return. It involves a true understanding of the person and work of the Holy Spirit, his ministry in the life of the church today and his work in the life of every believer. In short, it is right thinking about theology. In the following verses Peter attempts to correct some of the wrong theology that was out there in his day and he brings his readers back to some sound thinking. After describing briefly what the end of all things will be like he asks (and answers) this question: "Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming." (2 Peter 3:11,12a) Then a few verses further down he writes, "So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him." (2 Peter 3:14) As I read those words I wonder how many challenges to right thinking there will be in the year ahead. There will be many opportunities for us to make choices. Those choices will directly influence how we live – and those choices will be informed by how we think. We live in a culture that has conditioned us to think in certain patterns. The uncertainty of the times will challenge us to reevaluate how we think about certain closely held values. 2009 stands before us but none of us knows what it holds. Will our culturally conditioned "world view" help or hinder us in our pursuit of the kind of godly lives Peter reminds us of? We will need to be able to think clearly this year in order to evaluate how we have been conditioned by things like music, movies, TV, radio, the press, sports and our peers – even our politics. There may be things we will need to change in our lives so that we can think in a manner that is wholesome… right… pure…! So that we can think clearly. Peter was quite concerned about this kind of thinking. In his first letter (his first reminder) we find these verses – notice the context of both is Jesus’ return:
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. (1 Peter 1:13)
The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. (1 Peter 4:7)
Allow me to challenge us to make 2009 the year of the pursuit of wholesome thinking. Notice in verse 14 how Peter calls us to "make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him". This will require an intentionality on our part to practice thinking clearly – allowing Scripture, prayer and good Christian fellowship to shape the way we think.
Then keep looking for the soon return of Jesus. That ought to have some effect on how we think – don’t you think?
May God bless you this year!
*All Scripture quotations from the NIV. Emphasis mine.