Unbelievers “think it strange” you are not doing the things you use to do. They have a problem believing Christians have really changed. They think you ought to still just continue doing what was your past, the way the unbeliever is living now and the way you were, to live like before you became a Christian. You are always being watched; just see if you will slip up. This is the importance of Christians encouraging other Christians for you will find strength to overcome. Also, when an individual Christian sins, others are there to help them recover and become even stronger in their faith. One of the best places for this to take place is when you are in the worship service. Being absent from the worship service actually hurts Christ and also provides an opportunity for Satan to temp you and for the unbeliever to say, “I told you so”.
You are “not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation” or as another translation is “that you do not run with them into the same excess of dissipation”. The best description of this plunging or running is a stampede of pleasure seekers. It is a picture of a group together diving into satisfying the human desires of evilness or riotous living. Such individuals want more and more and are surprised the Christian will not participate. Because the Christian will not take part, the unbeliever will heap all kinds of abuse on them. They will be little you, slander you, ridicule you, say all kinds of bad things about you and persecute you as was done to the Christians who first read this letter from Peter. Look the world over and you will see how much the Christian is being persecuted today. Remember, Peter has already written about Christians who suffer for doing good, spreading the good news of Jesus Christ who is Lord and Savior; they will be blessed.
Do not fear those who “heap abuse on you” for they will receive their just punishment. They may think they are getting away with the abuse, but one day they will see that they did not get away with it. Such individuals will “give account” one day “to him who is ready to judge the living and the dead”. There is a Judgment Day. All of mankind, since the beginning of time, will come before Him to give an account. Jesus has the books and if your name is not written there you will be condemned and punished for eternity. Prepare yourself to meet the Master before it is too late. Make Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior by believing, repenting, confessing, being immersed into Christ and living the Christian life. Jesus, then will be able to present you before the Father as if you had never sinned. It is in your hands. What will you do? THINK ABOUT THIS VERY CAREFULLY AND THEN TAKE ACTION!!!