In 1 Peter 4:3, Peter wrote, “For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles—when we walked in lewdness, lusts, drunkenness, revelries, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries.” As we consider this command, we have a tendency to try and figure out what is not included in this description. In other words, I am not supposed to do some things that the world engages in, but that doesn’t mean I can’t…, and then we give reasons why our particular desire can be enjoyed.
People will excuse all sorts of vices, simply because they think that Peter surely didn’t mean to include our particular predilection in his words.
Rather, I think it is important for us to look at it from the other direction. If I am not to live as the world lives, what all does that entail? It is possible that I am imbibing in worldly activities, enjoying worldly proclivities, acting in worldly ways. I need to examine myself and my life because it is really important I not do such things. I don’t want to be in the same boat as them (the Gentiles). “They will give an account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead” (5).
Our purpose is not to try to see what we can do in life, without going too far. It is to recognize how antithetical to God the world has become, and to draw near to Him!
