The coming of the Lord is imminent. It is closer to us today than it was to saints in the Bible. Thus, Apostle Peter sounded a warning to believers that “the end of all things is at hand: be… sober, and watch unto prayer.” As Christians look forward to the great event, they should let their “moderation be known unto all men” in all things and refuse to be distracted by the pleasures and pursuits of “this world (that) passeth away” or make them their priority. They must avoid excesses and focus on preparing for the coming of the Lord. The end-time virtue of moderation should reflect in all believers do.
The command to “let (our) moderation be known unto all men” is a charge to be modest even in our ambition. Unfortunately, some people allow unchecked ambition to consume them. This is because they want to impress society or someone other than God, or exalt themselves above everyone. Their role model is Lucifer whose ambition was to be like God.
His ambition made him to deceive Eve to eat “of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden.” Eve’s ambition to “be as gods, knowing good and evil” caused the Fall, brought wrath upon humanity and made us sinners by nature. But God sent His Son to redeem us from the bondage of sin. While the people who built the tower of Babel were scattered abroad on the face of all the earth, Pharaoh and Absalom manifested dreadful ambition that consumed them. To avoid a similar fate, we must be moderate in our aspiration and accomplishment.
“Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” We should not be so ambitious that we forget that the coming of the Lord is imminent. Christ wants us to be content with what we have because “He that loveth silver shall not be satisfied with silver…but godliness with contentment is great gain.” Our moderation should be practical because the world watches to know if we practise what we preach. We can only convince them that we are true Christians if we reflect moderation in our marriage, burial, house-warming ceremonies and other events. Through this public comportment, we prove to them that we are not distracted by passing pleasures of the world. The Lord wants us to pay more attention to things that are spiritual, eternal and profitable. As His coming draws nearer, we must flee covetousness and pursue “righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience and meekness” (1 Timothy 6:10,11).
Apostle Peter admonished believers not to concentrate on “outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; but…the hidden man of the heart… which is in the sight of God of great price.” As believers, we must have true conviction of modesty of apparel based on the word of God. We are to take care of our spiritual lives more than our physical appearance. Rather than allow worldly fashion to inspire what we wear, we should appear neat and presentable to the Lord. When God called Jacob to go to Bethel, Jacob commanded his household to “put away the strange gods… be clean, and change (their) garments.” In obedience, they surrendered “all the strange” things in their possession and God preserved them.
Nothing should be too difficult for us to give up in our lives. The scripture clearly states that: “The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the Lord.” The Lord will punish those who compromise with the world in their “strange apparel.” Apostle Paul exhorts women to “adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety.” Unlike unbelievers who are passionate about earthly things, we should set our affection on things above and not compromise with the world in dressing as in all other areas of life.
The anointing of the Lord is important for all believers. We should not be concerned about the things that glitter or appear attractive to the people of the world.
The power of the Holy Ghost and the mantle of the anointed that enable us to do exploits for the Lord should be our utmost interest. Elisha’s consecration and commitment not to leave his master got him the Spirit’s power through the mantle of Elijah. “And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.” He received the power and performed many miracles.
God also “wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: so that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them.” Our lives and mantles should carry the power and anointing of God to heal and deliver. If our garment or righteousness pleases the Lord, He will cause His blessings to come upon us and His glory will clothe us. As we remain modest and uncompromising, every “burden shall be taken away from off (our) shoulder… and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.”
• Further Reading (King James Version): Philippians 4:5; 1 Peter 4:7; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31, 35. Philippians 4:5; Isaiah 14:12-17; Genesis 3:1-6; 11:3-7; Exodus 15:9-13; 2 Samuel 15:1-6; 18:9,10,15; Ecclesiastes 5:10; Hebrews 13:5,6; 2 Peter 3:10-14. Philippians 4:5; 1 Peter 3:3-6; Genesis 35:1-5; Deuteronomy 22:5; Zephaniah 1:8,9; Isaiah 3:16-24; 1 Timothy 2:9-11,15; Judges 8:22-27; Psalm 73:6-12,16-26; Jude 1:21-25. 2 Kings 2:8,9; Acts 19:11,12; Isaiah 52:1,2; 10:27; Esther 6:6-13; 8:15-17; 10:3.
