My Exodus

From the Pastor: Dr. M. J. Seymour, Sr.

“Knowing that shortly I must put off this my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath shewed me. Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.” (II Pet. 1:14-15)

Four words in these passages unveil for us a tremendous encouragement and hope. They are “shortly,” “tabernacle,” “shewed,” and “decease.”

The Apostle Peter gives a full acknowledgement that life in the flesh is but for a brief period of time. Though we may seek to discover the fountain of youth, in reality it just does not exist. Death will eventually over take everyone of us. Sin must come to its full maturity, and death is sin in its fully completed state. Death is the culmination of all that sin is. It is the curse of Adam passed down to all mankind. Everyone must come to the fullness of the curse of Adam, which is death by sin. The cause of all fleshly death is sin, and “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”

By using the term “tabernacle” Peter concedes that the body of this flesh is but only a temporary dwelling place. While man journeys through this brief period of time on earth he is dwelling in a transitory house called the body or human flesh. In the fullness of his time, however long that may be, he will lay down his temporary dwelling place and will be relocated to his permanent dwelling place or eternal home. Only two are given in the Scriptures, heaven or hell. Everyone in his time will exchange his tent for a home.

The word “shewed” carries the idea of making absolutely clear. The Lord Jesus made this fact completely clear to Peter on the event of the Lord’s resurrection. There was no doubt in the Apostle Peter’s mind concerning the temporariness of man’s life on earth and the permanency of man’s life in eternity. Upon this he was clear.

Peter carefully uses the word “decease” that he might convey the truth of all that had been said before. The word means exodus or departure. Peter was paralleling the exodus out of Egypt, which is symbolic of being in bondage, and the exodus out of the body, which is being in the bondage of sinful flesh. The saints of God have always in great joyous anticipation looked forward to making their exodus out of this body of death unto a glorified body of life eternal.