2 Peter 3:11 – “Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?”
Today’s New Testament reading is an apocalyptic look at the earth being destroyed by fire. Consider verses 10 and 12: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up… 12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?” As I read that passage out loud today someone said to me, “Sounds like a nuclear blast, doesn’t it?” I’m not sure what will cause such a fervent heat that is capable of bringing destruction to the earth. Whatever it is will be something quite unlike anything earth’s inhabitants have ever seen.
There are two things about today’s chapter that speak loudly to me. The first one is in relationship to the Lord’s coming. Verse 3 says that in the last days scoffers will come and they will be mocking the second coming of the Lord. Verse 4 tells us what they will be saying: “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” They wrongly suppose that heaven’s inactivity means a change in plans. Peter explains that the Lord’s delay is due to His patience toward mankind. God is allowing a space of time for people to repent and come into the kingdom.
The second thing that pops out at me is in our text. Knowing information about how the end will turn out should affect the way we live. It’s good to understand the end times and sequence of events. It’s all fascinating and intriguing and mysterious. But if it doesn’t change the way I live, what good is it? Knowing God’s end time plans should encourage me to partner with Him to reach people and should sharpen my own devotion toward Him. God has a promise to keep. Jesus will come again. Let’s do all we can to be ready in every way.