December 1, 2022
8 But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
11 Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, 12 looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. 13 But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. 14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight. 15 And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved.
- 2 Peter 3:8–15 -
11 Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, 12 looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. 13 But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness. 14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight. 15 And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved.
- 2 Peter 3:8–15 -
The scriptures are clear. There will come a day when heaven invades nature and God will establish his eternal kingdom on this earth. For those who are found in Christ, that day is a day of great celebration and thanksgiving. For those who are not found in Christ, that day is a day of grief and turmoil. But, as we noted yesterday, God is patient with us and gives us time to turn to him with hearts of repentance and faith. His greatest desire is that every human being, borne in the image of God, would have restored relationship with him.
Many have rightly taught that the last day when Christ returns will be a great, terrible, and fearful day. While that is technically true it only tells half of the story. The full truth is this: On that day evil will be conquered forever, sin will be defeated and eradicated, suffering will be silenced, sickness will be cast out, and death will be forever arrested. Then, God will restore and recreate the heavens and the earth in "a world filled with God's righteousness."
Friend, we want to be there on that day. And, if we have hidden our lives in Christ, there is nothing to fear. We have already been assigned a place in new creation and we can look forward to that day with great anticipation and joy.
Many have rightly taught that the last day when Christ returns will be a great, terrible, and fearful day. While that is technically true it only tells half of the story. The full truth is this: On that day evil will be conquered forever, sin will be defeated and eradicated, suffering will be silenced, sickness will be cast out, and death will be forever arrested. Then, God will restore and recreate the heavens and the earth in "a world filled with God's righteousness."
Friend, we want to be there on that day. And, if we have hidden our lives in Christ, there is nothing to fear. We have already been assigned a place in new creation and we can look forward to that day with great anticipation and joy.
Posted in Advent
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