1 Peter 1:13, The final Grace!
Therefore,
having girded up the loins of your mind, being sober, completely hope on the Grace being borne to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13
Maybe David said it best when he said in psalms 73:25, whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you! And right before that he said in verse 24+25; nevertheless, I am continually with you; you hold my right hand. You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.
That is the final Grace; God and Jesus Christ receiving us to glory!
For the wages of sin is death, but the Grace-gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
Therefore what kind of persons ought we to be?
One who first girds up the loins of his mind, second remains sober and third completely hopes…
1. Girding up… John Piper explains it that the girdle was used to tuck in your flowing garment so you could run
Laying aside every weight and sin which clings so closely that we can run the race set before us (Hebrews 12:1)
2. Being sober minded as opposed to being drunk. The world offers all kinds of drinks; you can be drunk on power, wealth, food, this life, people, vanity, sports, tv, music, career and all sorts of stuff.
3. Completely hope on the Grace that is coming to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Being single minded is what comes to mind. What is first and foremost in your life as shown by… and that is by the Grace of God.
People say; the mind is a terrible thing to waste. But this world is the devils playground, it is designed to get us away from God, distract us, occupy us with “other” things, some good, some bad, as long as it keeps us away from the final Grace, obtaining salvation! Where you keep your mind, that’s what you treasure most!
What is the greatest thing you can think of? Being in heaven with our heavenly Father!
By his Grace, God through his son Jesus Christ has made a way for us to obtain it! And that is the final Grace!
Grace, because we don’t deserve it and can’t earn it either! Therefore out of our thankfulness for Grace received and by God’s Grace we gird up our mind, we remain sober, and fully hope on the final Grace to be with God in heaven forever. And in case we fall, or fall short, we get back up and continue the race by God’s Grace! For a righteous man falls seven times and does he not rise again! Yes, he does, because he is a righteous man, made righteous by Jesus’ death on the cross, therefore that’s what righteous people do, get back up and continue the race to the end, by the Grace of God!