I Peter I:4 states, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises; that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”
Fire season is once again upon us. Two of my dear friends just lost their home because of the Dry Creek fire in northeastern Oregon. When I got my first harvest job—in that same Dry Creek Canyon—my boss, Herold Harder, told me, “You can’t outrun a wheat fire with a wheat truck. Turn 90 degrees from it and get out of the way. You can drive through standing wheat.” We had two wheat fires while I worked for him—fortunately there was no wind.
It is always good to have an escape route, especially when it comes to the corruption in this world that leads to the inescapable, eternal fires of Hell. Peter had been a disciple of Jesus for many years when he wrote our text. In verses 14 and 15 of this chapter, Peter says that the Lord has shown him that his life is about over. He says that he is writing these things that we may have them after he is gone.
First, Peter states that an escape route is promised. The promise is great and precious. Paul writes in I Corinthians 10:13, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” Temptations can be like a fire chasing us. They are not uncommon and will come—probably sooner rather than later. The Corinthians were facing temptations such as fornication and idolatry, as also the Children of Israel in the wilderness faced. These seem to be the devil’s playing cards, and he is quick to use them on us today. Paul says that there is a level of temptation, “…above that ye are able.” He does not say that we will not be in it but, “…with the temptation also makes a way to escape.”
Jesus said for us to pray, “And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen” (Matthew 6:13). The reason He said to do this is because God does have the power to do it. So in the text Peter shares the escape route, that is, to be a partaker of the divine nature. We do not become divine, but we have the Divine power; “According as his Divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (II Peter 1:3).
This divine nature miraculously pulls us out of the path of fire and destruction. Peter says, “…having escaped the corruption.” The devil is never going to quit trying to tempt us—there is always a danger of fire. In Luke’s account of the temptations of Jesus, he ended by saying, “And when the devil had ended all the temptation, he departed from him for a season” (Luke 4:13). It is fire season, brother and sister. Be sure and know THE ESCAPE ROUTE!
