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Author James Baldwin observed that “Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them.”

The older we get, the more we adults want to impress on the next generation the lessons we’ve learned and the wisdom we’ve gleaned. We can discuss our experiences, but like Baldwin pointed out, young people may ignore our stories and advice. But they notice how we live. And, not to sound morbid, they watch how we deal with the end of things. A job that gets cut. The last day of high school or college. An elderly relative losing a battle against cancer.

Each of us will face our last day on this earth, whether by death or the return of Jesus Christ. We don’t know when either event will occur, but we do know that the end will happen.

In light of this unavoidable reality, we can ask the question posed by apologist Francis Schaeffer–how should we then live?

God’s Word provides biographical guidance for us. It does more than convey sound moral principles; the Scriptures offer us profiles of faithfulness to God’s call. Many of the saints described in the Old and New Testaments served the Lord until their deaths. In particular, two apostles, Peter and Paul, left a record of their dealings with the end of their ministries. How they did so is worth emulating.

In this post, we’ll look at the approach of Peter; next week, we’ll start to delve into Paul’s attitude.

Christ’s Prophecy

“‘Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.’ ¹⁹Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, ‘Follow me!’” – John 21:18-19

Following His resurrection, Jesus made periodic visits with His disciples to prepare them for two situations: His departure and their ministry. After three years of training, and the soon bestowal of the Spirit, the apostles would continue and extend the work Jesus had begun. His ministry would progress through them.

Having denied the Lord, Peter no doubt felt disqualified for such service, but Jesus didn’t abandon him. He not only restored Peter, He also warned him about the end of a ministry that hadn’t even started yet.

Clothing is one of the basic ways we communicate with the world. What we wear expresses our values, standards, and preferences. Jesus told Peter that in his younger years, he could assert himself in whatever manner he wished. And that’s a blessing for us to know when we get ready to minister. It’s easy to assume that we have to conform to a rigid pattern to be acceptable to God, but Jesus doesn’t think that way. He called Peter but He allowed the apostle to choose the ways in which he would serve. What he wore, where he went–Peter made his own decisions.

But that won’t last.

At the end, someone else will dress him; another person will lead him where he doesn’t even want to go. Peter’s life will end under the control of a society which disapproves of him and hates his Savior.

Peter will oblige; he could resist, but he won’t. In his final interaction with the world, he will give himself up to an unjust sentence. He will lose his life but please the One for Whom he lived and died.

How could Peter prepare himself for martyrdom? Not by contemplating the future, but by following Jesus. And that’s the key. As long as he focused on the Lord, he could handle anything in his path.

And that’s what Jesus requires of us. We don’t need to have a prophecy about our death to live for Christ. We need only follow Him. And when we do, He will equip us for what we will face.

And He will change the direction of our hearts.

Peter’s Response

“I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, ¹⁴because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. ¹⁵And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.” – 2 Peter 2:13-15

At the end of Peter’s life, Jesus spoke to him a second prophecy: it’s time. His ministry was ending and he would soon go home.

Peter didn’t argue with the Lord about this; he accepted the disclosure. But he’d grown in the years of his apostleship. Jesus had prepared His disciples for His departure; likewise, Peter felt it necessary to prepare the Christians he served for his.

Peter wanted the church to survive his death; to thrive even. And believers would do so if they could recall his teaching. So Baldwin was mistaken, at least about spiritual children. Peter wished for them to hold onto what he’s telling them, to let his words support and sustain them through the challenges they would encounter.  He wrote to encourage Christians that they could endure trials, they could experience God’s grace, and they could live in ways that pleased the Father.

At the end of his life, Peter was more concerned with others than he was with himself. This demonstrates how God’s Spirit had formed his character over the years. With the clock winding down, he didn’t reflect on personal desires or goals. Instead, Peter devoted his last efforts to blessing others.

Application

French writer Jean de la Fontaine recommended that “In everything one must consider the end.” This applies to ministry, too. We do not have unlimited time. Developing efficient systems will improve our productivity, but investing in others will produce fruit even after we’re gone.

Follow Peter’s example. If you have liberty to make your own choices, take advantage of those opportunities. If you don’t, you needn’t despair. Jesus will honor your service whether you’re free as a bird or hemmed in by circumstances. You’ll know you’ve grown when you discover that you care more about others than you do about yourself. When you think like that, you’re imitating Jesus. And with that, God is well-pleased.