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What is "the good life"? The answer you get depends on who you ask. To a homeless person,
it may be having a home and adequate food. The average American may describe it as having two
cars, a two-story house, and two bank accounts; a checking and savings. To the more affluent it may
be yachts and European villas and world cruises. What does God have to say about it? His answer
is what most people in all those groups are really seeking. God said it is to "love life" and "see good
days." What more could anyone ask? Whether rich or poor, for life to be filled with good days so
that we genuinely love life; is the desire of most of our hearts.
It is interesting to note that this is not a new idea with Peter. He did not develop some new and
radical philosophy. He was not seeking to experiment and perhaps be disappointed, he wanted a sure
thing. So Peter looked into the Word of God to rediscover the good life. Guess where he found it?
It was written in the Old Testament for all to see. Look at Psalm 34:12-16 and compare it to 1 Peter
3:10-12. As you study them comparatively, there are so many ways in which they parallel each
other. So if you want the good life, live the old tried and proven ways of a godly life. Many have
failed to realize this truth, even among the saved.
I believe we all want to live a life we can love. To live such a life, we need our years to be filled
with good days. While this is our desire, the sad reality is that it is not always that way. We all
know that there are difficult and trying times in life. God told us it would be that way. He said
troubles would come our way (Job 14:1). God forewarned us that the longer we live, the more
problems we are likely to experience (Ecclesiastes 12:1). If every moment of every day was
wonderful and we never experienced any trials, many would not want to go to heaven? Yet
somewhere in between is a happy medium. Between constant bad and perpetual good, there is a rich
and fulfilling life. Many now enjoy such a life and many others want it. So if you ask, "How can
I find the good life"?; God tells you the answer through His Apostle Peter.
What God shares with us through Peter is not so complicated. The secret is found by using TWO
keys. That is not too unusual. Many homes now have two keys. One is for the door knob and the
other for the dead-bolt. Many of our cars have two keys also, one for the door and the other for the
ignition. Have you ever noticed how many times God uses two things? He created us with two feet,
two hands, two eyes, and two ears. In the Holy Scriptures, there are two testaments. There are two
WORDS also, the written and inspired word as the Bible and the living incarnate Word, Who is
Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is not so strange that God would give us two KEYS to finding the good
life.
The first key deals with the use of the tongue or mouth: "let him refrain his tongue from evil,
and his lips that they speak no guile" (1 Peter 3:10). The second key deals with what we do in life:
"Let him eschew evil, and do good, let him seek peace, and ensue it" (1 Peter 3:11). If we can
understand how God would have us use our tongues and what He would have us do, we can then
enjoy the good life.
First, we need to look at the proper use of the tongue. It is an important member of our body.
Our tongue has great potential to do good or to do evil. In God's earliest laws, called the Ten
Commandments, He outlined the proper and improper use of the tongue. He gave this simple
commandment in Exodus 20:16. Therefore we are to speak truth and not lie, about others or
ourselves. The importance of this commandment is seen in James 3 in his discourse on the tongue.
He stated that we often offend, but if we can control our tongue, we are able to control the remainder
of our bodies. No wonder Peter mentions the tongue first in his message. James went on to tell us
that even though the tongue is small in size, it is capable of great damage. It is like a small campfire
that spreads to engulf and destroy the entire forest (James 3:5-6).
The Bible certainly does have a great deal to say about the tongue. Even a superficial study will
reveal this truth. The Book of Job is believed by some to be the oldest book of the Bible. He said
this - Job 6:25. Solomon is without doubt the wisest man who ever live, with the exception of Jesus
Christ. God inspired Solomon to write the Book of Proverbs and give many jewels for daily living.
He said this in Proverbs 25:11. In the New Testament we find many other admonitions. Paul
encouraged the saints at Colosse to heed the words of Colossians 4:6. Then to the younger minister
Titus he spoke the words of Titus 2:8, as a message for the saints. The list of scriptures could go on
and on, but let these suffice in verifying that many scriptures do address the subject of the tongue.
May Psalm 19:14 be our daily prayer.
In Peter's statements, he uses some interesting words about the tongue. He said to "refrain" from
speaking "evil" and to speak no "guile." The words are "refrain", "evil" and "guile." The idea of
REFRAIN is cease from or not to engage in saying evil things. The word EVIL means that which
is bad. So we are not to say bad thigs, if we are to enjoy the good life. We must keep our tongues
in the will of God and hold back when satan tempts us to say bad things. The idea of bad things is
not simply profanity as taking God's name in vain Exodus 20:7; it is more. The idea of GUILE is
involved also. Guile in the Bible is deceit and dishonesty. Peter is telling us that we can be
dishonest and deceitful in our words and well as our actions. When you tell lies about others or in
order to get what you want, the guile can hurt others as well as yourself. When Peter spoke of the
sinlessness of Christ, he said there was no guile in His mouth (1 Peter 2:22). In the beginning of that
same chapter he said we are to put it aside too (1 Peter 2:1). That should be obvious, if we are
Christians, we should strive to be Christ like, which means no guile in our mouth. To follow this
practice will not only mean that we do not offend other people and bring their contempt on us, but
in the process we please God and He bestows His blessings on us. As God blesses us and we get
along better with others, we will have more good days in which we will love life.
Second, we need to consider the things we should do to live as God teaches. We come now to
receive the second key. Here is the other half of the puzzle. If we were to stop after verse ten, we
would never be able to FULLY enjoy the good life. Again there are important words to consider.
They are: "eschew," "peace," and "ensue." Peter started with the tongue, now he advances to
encompass the whole of our being. He will help us define ourselves and who we are, not by one
member, but by what we do and how we live. True Christianity is not just to sit around acting
piously, it is to live in God's will for us. The word "eschew" means that we are to turn away for evil
or bad. As we turn away from evil, we are gradually turning more and more towards God. There
is a great deal of evil in the world about us. Many who are close to us are involved in evil acts. It
is not easy to swim against the current in the river, it is much easier to float with the stream. The
same is true in our lives, it is not easy to go against the tide of evil that is sweeping our nation and
the world, It will take great courage and much grace to accomplish this feat, but God never said it
would be easy, only that it will make your life better. Even in the distant past in which Peter lived,
sin and evil was rampant. Even further back in the days of Job, there was great evil. Yet Job was
a man who eschewed evil according to Job 1:1, 8; 2:3. In all three references, the fact that he
shunned evil was connected to fearing God. It was no easier for them than for us. Through much
prayer and by God 's help, they were able to turn away from the evil and not participate. People want
you to go along with the crowd and thus sanction what they are doing. God is telling us it will only
make us miserable and unhappy, if we have been saved. Though others may turn against us, the Lord
will be with us and His presence is necessary if we are to love life and see good days.
The final idea that is set forth is that we are to seek peace. Peace means to have UNITY. Peter
said for this to become a reality, we must ensue it, which simply means that we PURSUE peace.
Peace can be spontaneous, but most of the time it does not come that way. When people live
peaceably together, there are many personal sacrifices that have to be made. That holds true whether
nations, communities, friends, or familes are involved. If you want to live peaceably, you must work
at it. You will need to pursue it as the desired game of the hunt or as the long sought after treasure.
Jesus understood this fact and said that there are to be peacemakers (Matthew 5:9). Our peace with
God comes throught our Lord Jesus Christ. He is our "peacemaker" and thus was prophesied as the
Prince Of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). God recognizes that it is not always possible to get along peacably.
There are some people who will not let you get along with them and you could probably name a few.
However, we are to do all we possibly can to get along with them and live peacably, according to
Romans 12:18.
These verses have no MAGIC about them. They simply help STEER us into God's path of
righteousness. The Psalmist said that as our Shepherd, God will lead us in the way of righteous
(righteousness) living (Psalm 23:3). It is as simple as this, when we live in obedience to God , He
will bless us. Peter said in verse twelve, that God sees what we do and will either hear us or oppose
us. Long ago Isaiah told Israel these truths: he said if they lived righteous lives in obedience to God,
they would be blessed. On the other hand, if they refused and rebelled against God they would be
devoured (Isaiah 1:18-20). God had a right to make such demands on them, after all He had cleansed
their sins.
Today, God makes a similar demand because He gave His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for the sins
of His people. The preceeding chapter gave an indepth statement of the truth of redemption and
salvation through Jesus, our Lord (1 Peter 2:24-25). He saved us by grace, we should serve and
honor Him with our mouths and lives. If we do not, we have no right to expect His blessings. Live
any way you want to, but do not expect God to bless you to feel good about it and enjoy life. To
enjoy such a life, we must have the blessings of God. All we need, He is able to supply (James
1:17).
In conclusion, let me exhort you to live it up, dear child of God. Seek a life full of good days and
blessings that will make you love the life you live. Such a life will fill you with satisfaction and
contentment. It will not be found in sinful indulgences, not in evil speaking nor evil living. Such
lives are never truly, lastingly gratifying. Therefore, the good life is not fame and fortune. It is
speaking words that honor and please God. It is doing good things for people and trying to get along
with them, though you cannot partake of their sins. The GOOD LIFE is living a good moral life,
living closer to God each day. It is seeking His will and trusting Him for all blessings you need.
These are the KEYS to THE GOOD LIFE and may God bless you with peace and prosperity in living
for Him. Remember that LONG LIFE comes in honoring our parents (Exodus 20:12 & Ephesians
6:2-3), but the GOOD LIFE comes in honoring God. People CAN NOT give it to you. No matter
how much they love you, they can give good things, but not good days. Satan WILL NOT give it
to you, though he has great power, it is directed to do evil. God CAN AND DOES give good days.
Therefore, we must live for Him and trust God for the good life.
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