A Coming Day….

2 Peter 3:10-11 (NIV)

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives….

There is so much that goes on in life … in this world … things that usually feel beyond our control or ability to change.  It is easy to understand how our faith can wane at times, or we can lose perspective as believers.  So I think our Verse of the Day affords some insight into honing a focus on the eternal rather than on the temporal.  The Apostle Peter reminds us that there will be a “Day of the Lord” when the great “reset” will occur.  Peter assures us there will be an ultimate judgment of the earth and of all who have lived upon it.  It will come suddenly … and it will be final! The imagery is quite sobering; and so, Peter urges us to consider what kind of lives we ought to be living in light of this knowledge of judgment. Even Paul affirms: “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.” (Cf. 2 Corinthians 5:10) Yes, we will give an account of our lives, our words, our deeds, and our hearts. So I think it best for us to consider the applications here….

Yet, within this context of judgment, Peter offers us insight into the hope of believers.  So I want to place our verse in the larger context for us:

2 Peter 3:1-14 (NIV)

¹ Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. ² I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. ³ Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. ⁴ They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ He promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” ⁵ But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. ⁶ By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. ⁷ By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. ⁸ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. ¹¹ Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹² as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. ¹³ But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. ¹⁴ So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him.

And this was prophesied by Isaiah centuries before even Christ Jesus was born: “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Jerusalem to be a delight and its people a joy.” (Isaiah 65:17-18) And, “As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me,” declares the Lord, “so will your name and descendants endure. From one New Moon to another and from one Sabbath to another, all mankind will come and bow down before me,” says the Lord. (Isaiah 66:22-23)

And we have the revelation to the Apostle John as well – who affirmed the prophetic message of Isaiah when he recorded: “Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. (Cf. Revelation 21:1) I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.” (Cf. Revelation 21:2)

So, Yes! We are called to holiness and righteousness!  We are called to be spotless and blameless and at peace with God as we look forward to the great “reset” when there shall be a new heaven and a new earth reserved for those who abide in Christ Jesus. These attributes are not a banner to be worn in spiritual pride; rather, these are qualities that God desires within each of us … in our inner beings. Indeed, the wonderful news is that we are imputed with the righteousness of Christ our Savior through the atonement of His blood! “Because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Cf. Ephesians 2:4-9)

Peter asked, “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?” Jesus told the woman at the well, “The Father is looking for true worshipers who will worship Him in the Spirit and in Truth. (Cf. John 4:23) And to me, true worship embodies obedience as an expression of reverence. Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commands.” (Cf. John 14:15) Paul expressed it this way: “In view of God’s mercy, we should offer our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is our true and proper worship.” (Cf. Romans 12:1) To me, the application is clear. Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” (Cf. John 13:14) And John reminds us: ^“This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. (Cf. 1 John 5:2-4)

So Now You Know….

Have a Blessed Day!