1Peter 4:4-5
4 They are surprised that you do not join them in their reckless, wild living, and they heap abuse on you. 5 But they will have to give account to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead.
Have you ever been scorned for not thinking and doing like the masses? The apostle Peter addressed the Jewish and Gentile Christians in Asia Minor regarding what can be a difficult experience and where most crumble. Peter was offering encouragement because he knew what would come with walking with Christ. It would mean not seeing everything with the natural eye like everyone else. It would mean looking at life and every action with the spiritual eye and the long term implications of actions. Those that would persecute them would not see yet they would still be held accountable, not because they didn't know but because when given the opportunity to learn, they didn't.
Nothing has changed. What Peter said to followers of Christ then still holds true now. We only get one life, but multiple chances are given throughout our lives to start anew, to live and think better than we ever did before. The problem for most of us is we are so afraid of not being accepted that we crumble easily at the first insult of how we live and think when we do not do and say what others do. Sure, everyone wants to be loved and accepted but it can come with a greater price. The cost of living life like everyone else has long term implications. The long term effects are not only in the spiritual realm but in the natural realm. He who lives destruction reaps destruction in every area of life.
What will you say when you are asked to give an account? Is being accepted worth reaping destruction in your life?
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