Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (vv.10-11)
Here Peter is encouraging the Jewish Christians throughout Asia Minor that by doing these things spoken of earlier in 2 Peter 1:5-7 (faith, virtue, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love), they make their calling and election sure and keep themselves from stumbling. As we see these things in our life, we know that our lives are becoming more like the nature of Jesus. It shows that we are being conformed to the image of His Son (Romans 8:29).
Peter also reminded his readers here of the great reward of a calling and election made sure. They would enter heaven gloriously, not as through fire (1 Corinthians 3:15).
F.B. Meyer wrote, “There are two ways of entering a port. A ship may come in, waterlogged and crazy, just keep afloat by continual working at the pumps; or it may enter with every sail set, her pennon floating at the mast-head. The latter is what the apostle desires for himself and those whom he addresses. He desired that an entrance abundant should be ministered unto them.”
Meyer also wrote that the idea of an “abundant entrance” was really a choral entrance. The idea was of a Roman conqueror coming into his city, welcomed by singers and musicians who would join him in a glorious, happy procession into the city.
That raises the question, How will our entrance into heaven be? Will we enter it, “save so as by fire,” or to receive a reward? Will we come unrecognized and unknown, or be welcomed by scores and hundreds to whom we have been the means of blessing? Something to think about.
I for one do not want to enter those gates smoldering.
The Truth: “If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:15 - NKJV)
