As long as I am in the tent of this body

I have been enjoying reading in 2 Peter this week. There is a whole bunch of good in there. You should check it out. One thing though (among the many) that I found in there was this:

2Peter 1:12-15 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. because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

I have been thinking on this verse. A few things struck me as I read it. I think I will share them with you - whoever you are! :)

I love the way it starts out. Peter wants to remind them of something. Something he knows that they already know. As a matter of fact they apparently know it well because the word says that those things have been established in them. FIRMLY ESTABLISHED! They have heard it. They know it. But he is adamant about reminding them of it. He feels the importance of that reminder. He even goes so far as to say that he will continue to remind them of it as long as he lives. I like that. There are people in our lives that need to be reminded that GOD LOVES THEM! Maybe they are people who have been to Sunday School forever. Maybe they are people that rarely miss a church service. Or maybe not. But whichever it is, or even somewhere in between, they need to be reminded that there is nothing that can take away Gods love for them.

I was recently thinking about my son who is a senior in high school this year.

Oh my goodness!

I was stating things to God that I was thankful for where he is concerned. All of the sudden it just rose in me that I was so thankful that I had this last year with him at home so that he could, for that little more time be reminded of what God means to us and to our family. One year from now he will be heading off to college which is a LARGE change. There is so much there to experience that he hasn't experienced here. That can be wonderful for him but it can also be, not so wonderful. See he is one who has been to church almost from day 1. He knows about the things of God. He knows of God's love, but a little reminder won't hurt! :) So when I saw this verse, it just reiterated to me how thankful I am that I have one more year to be who I am in Christ in front of him. One more year to remind him that God loves him. One more year for my husband and I to live out our faith in God in front of our son while he is at home. I am thankful for it. It's important. I love the last part of the verse "I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things." I have heard, or heard about, many who say "when I am gone I want to be remembered." "I dont want them to forget me." That is not what is at the forefront of Peters mind here. He isn't worried that they will forget him. He is not in the least concerned that they remember him after he is gone. What is important to him is that they REMEMBER the things of God that are necessary for their lives. THEIR lives. Not his. So again I have one more year with my youngest son here at home in this house. I will make every effort to see that after (his) departure (to college) he will always be able to remember these things. (The things of God he sees in our home.) And even after he goes off to college, as with my other children - As long as I live in the tent of this body I want to remind them of Gods' love.