We say “a picture is worth a thousand words,” yet we must use words to paint vivid pictures of worlds that are just emerging, and of worlds that are yet to be. The images and metaphors used throughout the Scriptures are what have made the words of promise and the messages of prophets a brilliantly vibrant picture of the truth for each new generation. In today’s epistle text Peter packs his words with an unprecedented number of images and metaphors. Some are new, some familiar, all designed to describe the remarkable new reality that is available to all because of the work accomplished by Jesus the Christ.

The first image created by Peter’s pen transforms an image of weakness into an image of eager new beginnings. Unlike Paul’s use of “milk” as a metaphor for the diet of spiritually immatu…