The Valley of the Shadow of Death Part 5 of 5

The Valley of the Shadow of Death Part 5 of 5

We close this study in 2 Peter 3 with verses 17 and 18.

17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.

18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.

Do not allow anyone to overcomplicate things. Go back to scripture and see for yourself what it says. If you become confused, do not allow that to make you waver and become ineffective. That is a tactic of the enemy. This verse is not talking about loss of salvation. It’s just saying that it is easy to focus our attention on the shadow of death that we see all around us and that will take our eyes off Jesus, stifle our growth, and make us weak in the Spirit.

Peter instead encourages us to grow in grace. Growing in grace happens as we increase the depth of our understanding of who Jesus is, what He has done, and who He has made us. The more deeply rooted in our minds the ramifications of the truth of the Gospel becomes, the more we rely upon God’s great grace and walk by faith instead of sight.

He also encourages us to grow in the knowledge of the Lord. This is not knowing more about the Lord but knowing the Lord personally, relationally, and intimately. The more we live with someone, the better we come to know them. We learn to rely upon them and trust them. This is growth in the knowledge of the Lord.

Growth in grace and the knowledge of the Lord brings us to the place where we can have hope, peace, and joy. It brings us to the place where we can say with King David,

1 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: And I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever. Psalm 23:1–6 (KJV 1900)