We have learned from Peter
in this second book called by his name that “The Lord is not
slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is
longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but
that all should come to repentance.” Though
God's appearance seems to be delayed, He will perform that which He
said He would do, and He only postpones because He is giving an
extended time for people to have a relationship with Him. In chapter
three and verse ten Peter informs his readers of how suddenly the
“day of the Lord”
will come. He wrote:
But the day of the Lord
will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall
pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with
fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be
burned up.
The
verse begins, “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in
the night;” Once again we see how Peter uses the word “But”
to begin this sentence. We know this means that what is about to be
said takes precedence over what was just stated. As an example of the
timing for “the day of the Lord” which is the time when
Jesus Christ comes to the earth again to destroy and remake it, Peter
likens Jesus' return to “a thief in the night”. The thief
comes unexpectedly and suddenly. Those who are burglarized are
unaware of the thief's arrival lest they would be waiting for him.
Though the Lord tarries and delays His appearance, when He does come
it will be all the sudden and immediate.
The
verse goes on to say, “in the which the heavens shall pass away
with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat,”
The result of this “day of the Lord” will be that the
“heavens” and the “elements” shall be affected
by it. The heavens “shall pass away” or “perish” with
a “great noise” which means “a loud or confusing”
sound. Peter wants his readers to know that the heavens and the
elements in their present state will be dissolved with a “fervent
heat” accompanied by a sudden, loud, and great noise.
Finally
the verse says, “the earth also and the works that are therein
shall be burned up.” After the description of the heavens and
the elements melting with a fervent heat, Peter says that “the
earth” and “the works” within it shall be burned up
as well. All the wonderful things will be destroyed, and all the
wicked things too. All the valuable things will burn, and all the
invaluable things will too. This “day of the Lord” of
which Peter speaks will be an ominous “day” that leads to
the destruction of not only the heavens and the elements thereof, but
also the earth and all its contents.
As we
think about this awesome verse, we should have at least two
reactions. The first will be one of great awe and respect for the
Lord Jesus in whom we love and serve, and the second is to really
understand the value of the temporal things. Everything we have
materially one day will burn. No matter how new it is, how valuable
it is, how old it is or how invaluable it is, it is all going to
burn. This should help us to keep in perspective the things of the
earth in which we place such high regard. Paul the apostle said it
best in the book of Second Corinthians chapter four and verse
eighteen:
While
we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are
not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but
the things which are not seen are eternal.
Let this
ever be our mantra as we continue in this life until the day the Lord
returns.
Next
time we will see how we should be because of these things, so read
ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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