Chasing the Mirage while walking away from Paradise

1st Peter 1:13-16

Have you ever seen those movies where someone is walking across the desert? They show the person in their desperate state of being and then they pan out into the desert and they always show this mirage. This gets the attention of the poor sap in the desert and they always take off running toward what they see in the distance only to find out that it is more sand. I think that this describes our lives sometimes. We walk around in the desert of life and something catches our eye. We desperately strive after that mirage that we think will please us, only to find out that it is a useless pit of sand. All the while that this is playing out right behind us is the key to paradise. We are so thirsty for the mirage that we fail to turn around and see the oasis that is behind us. What has to happen is a deliberate decision in our minds to not settle for the mirage and intentionally cultivate the oasis that is in our hearts. That oasis is the pursuit of holiness that each believer is called to make. We think that we will find satisfaction in the pursuit of the empty pleasures that make up the mirages of our lives, when real contentment is found in being who Christ has called us to be. When we find contentment in the pursuit of holiness then we will find that we are more content in the other areas of our lives. The things around us tend to take on the proper meaning when confronted with the oasis of Christ’s holiness that is bubbling forth out of the sand of our lives. My challenge to you tonight is to turn away from the mirage that is holding your attention and turn away from desires of your former ignorance,(v14) and bask in the oasis of God’s holiness. Cultivate the heart and actions of Christ in your life. (V15) Be Holy because He is holy. (V16)