There is a saying we often hear: “Only one life, ’twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.” This saying is relevant to the words of Peter because everything but holiness and godliness will be extinguished in the fire of cleansing that God will bring upon this earth. If our focus is on earthly treasures and earthly promotions it will be lost but if our focus is on holiness and godliness then it will stand in eternity.

Do you have a loved one that will graduate soon? As they walk across that stage and we are reunited with them we will bestow upon them our love for their efforts and their accomplished goal. But there is a greater graduation coming when we will graduate from this earthly body to a heavenly body. It is then stand before the Lord to receive not only his praise but also to give an account of what we have accomplished with the talents he had bestowed upon us as we read in chapter 1. He has bestowed upon us everything necessary for life and godliness. At the end we take only those gifts of godliness (ch 1) and holiness (ch 3) to eternity. Until then may we ponder the words written by Don Wrytzen about what we should be thinking and pondering about as we are busy about the Master’s business:

“But just think of stepping on shore-And finding it Heaven!
Of touching a hand-And finding it God’s!
Of breathing new air-And finding it celestial!
Of waking up in glory-And finding it home!”

Until our graduation, may we follow Peter’s advice: “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ so that we may give honor both now and on that eternal day” to the one who paid the price of our salvation. So Beloved, what are you and I busy doing that we will send on ahead to heaven? Are you focusing on gathering that which is temporal or gathering that which is eternal?