Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals:
Thursday May 28 2026
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2 Peter 1:13-15-Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, 14 knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. 15. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease.
Recently, I was rewatching an old television show that I used to enjoy when I was younger. It is called Touched By An Angel. I am guessing some of you have seen it, so I won’t go into too much detail about the basis of the show. For those who don’t know, the series focuses mainly on three angels (Monica, Tess, and the angel of death whose name is Andrew). They have been sent to Earth by God to share His message of love with lost and hurting mankind.
I was rewatching an episode from season five titled Psalm 151. It has a special guest star appearance featuring Wynonna Judd. It focuses on Judd’s character, Audrey Carmichael, who has a young son, Petey, who is suffering from a terminal illness. Throughout the episode, you find out that Petey has a “bucket list” of things that he wants to achieve before he dies. At the end of the show, a flag is raised up at their home as Judd and her fellow musicians sing a song entitled Psalm 151 (and which is actually the song, Testify To Love). Petey says, “It’s finished” and then he passes away. His notebook slips from his hand, and Monica picks it up to cross out the last goal on Petey’s “bucket list:”
“Go To Heaven.”
As I was watching that episode, my mind went to these words of the Apostle Peter and his statement that he must soon “put off” his “tent” and undergo his “exodus.” Barclay’s comments on the passage are very enlightening.
Peter looks ahead to his early death. He talks of his body as his tent, as Paul does (2 Corinthians 5: 4). This was a favourite picture with the early Christian writers. The Epistle to Diognetus says: ‘The immortal soul dwells in a mortal tent.’ The picture comes from the journeyings of the patriarchs in the Old Testament. They had no permanent residence, but lived in tents because they were on the way to the promised land. Christians know that life in this world is not a permanent residence but a journey towards the world beyond. We get the same idea in verse 15. There, Peter speaks of his approaching death as his exodos, his departure. Exodos is, of course, the word which is used for the departure of the children of Israel from Egypt, and their setting out to the promised land. Peter sees death not as the end but as the going out into the promised land of God.” (William Barclay, The Letters of James and Peter (The New Daily Study Bible), 355 (Kindle Edition): Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press)
The flag that had been raised up at the Carmichaels’ home said:
“Petey Lives Here.”
After the boy died, it is changed:
“Petey Lived Here.”
Death for the faithful child of God is not something that we have to live in fear of. As Peter points out, it is an “exodus” to God’s Promised Land. How that should fill our hearts with gratitude and anticipation as we live in this world as God’s pilgrims!
Are you ready for that Promised Land?
Thanks Lord for Your amazing grace and the promise of Heaven for Your people. Amen.