Do You Want to See Good Days?

Do You Want to See Good Days?

Most people probably find that their days are far from good and that life has not turned out the way they had thought or dreamed. Peter writes: “For ‘He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. Let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.’ And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?” 1 Pet. 3:10-13.

We are exhorted here to refrain our tongue from evil and our lips from speaking deceit. Before I say anything, I should run it through the following filter: Is it true? Is it good? Is it useful? Then there will be a lot left unsaid, that I won’t have to regret later. Occasionally, we may hear someone say, “I can’t understand how he could do such a thing . . .” and then go on to express their opinion about this person who could do “something so terrible.” It is somewhat ironic when they go on at length about things after initially claiming not to understand. How wise it is to remain silent instead. When I hear rumors or gossip, I should also run it through the same filter.

By living righteously and staying far away from backbiting, criticism, and all evil and useless talk, we will receive God’s blessing over our lives and experience good days in the midst of life’s trials and tribulations. When we find ourselves in situations where we don’t know what to do or say, we need to respond in this way: in any case, nothing evil! May we always follow what is good! Then I have the word of God as an assurance that I will not encounter anyone who can harm me. I will be thankful for all those who help me to see something in my flesh that I hate, something that needs to be put to death so that I can partake of divine nature.

Peter further exhorts us to seek peace and pursue it. In order to be able to do that, I must come to acknowledgment of the truth and admit the cause of my unrest. James writes: “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” Jas. 4:1. In other words, it is not my spouse, my children, my neighbor, or my boss who is the cause of the wars and fights I experience, but my desires that wage war in my members. I am the one who is the cause of the problem, but there is no reason to despair. In the word of God, I have found the recipe for how to resolve the problem. I need to take up my cross and deny myself so that the death of Christ may work over my evil desires and by doing so, the life of Christ will come forth. In this way, I will experience good days for the rest of my life.