Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have. I think it right, as long as I am in this body, to stir you up by way of reminder, since I know that the putting off of my body will be soon, as our Lord Jesus Christ made clear to me. And I will make every effort so that after my departure you may be able at any time to recall these things.

2 Peter 1:12-15

What’s the most important thing you want to leave behind when that comes? I know some who are working to make sure their families and spouses are taken care of financially when that time arrives and that is a admirable goal, but in the verses above we read of what was most important to Peter when his final days were approaching and how we should model our faith for those who follow after us.

Peter knew he would die some kind of death that would give glory to God –

“Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” (This he said to show by what kind of death he was to glorify God.) And after saying this he said to him, “Follow me.”

John 21: 18-19

And so let’s consider the words Peter wrote above. As long as Peter was alive he wanted the followers of Christ to know about the faith and the characteristics of such a life. Notice the progression of faith.

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:5-7

We should be thankful for the written word of God as it does exactly what Peter intended of his own life. By reading, studying and applying the truth of Scripture, we will “be able at any time to recall these things.”