Times End!

God’s Beautiful Earth!

# 9 2021 Dev. 2 Pe.3. Time’s End! Read chapter 3 first. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.

2 Peter 3:8 “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.”

Chapter three is a summary of both Peter 1 and 2: “I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking” to remind people of his day and to remind us of the teachings of Jesus and the teachings of God’s Word. There apparently was an expectation of the end of time among the people and leaders in the early church. They are not the only ones, since this pandemic the end feels to be fast approaching, as at other times in the history of the world. “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief,” unexpected.

Peter titles this chapter “The Day of the Lord”. Today we still have this expectation, it has become part of our Christmas celebrations, we celebrate Jesus’ first coming and expect His second coming, as is promised. The day of the Lord is the day of Judgment when all opportunity to believe in Jesus ends. It is a subject we do not like to think about but Peter encourages us with: “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.” By God’s grace He wants everyone to have the opportunity to believe. That also is a call to action for the church and gives the followers of Jesus a mandate.

“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.” Peter makes the destruction of this earth clear; “That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.”  But that is not the end; “in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” Transitions bring on a little fear and trepidation. 1 Cor. 3:10-15 is helpful in understanding the transition from the old to the new. As citizens of heaven we know that we do not get there by merit, but by believing in the promise of God, Jesus.

 “¹⁰ By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day (The Day of the Lord) will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.” God is Good!

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