During this section of
scriptures within the book of Second Peter, the apostle Peter has
shared about the pending judgment of the heavens and earth as we know
them. He has warned that this destruction will come suddenly “like
a thief in the night” and that those who observe his words
should consider their manner of living. In chapter three and verse
twelve Peter continues his discourse and question about how we should
live as we consider these things. He wrote:
Looking for and hasting
unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire
shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
The verse begins, “Looking
for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God,...” Peter
enlightens his readers as to how they should be knowing that Jesus'
return is imminent. He said first, they should be “looking
for” which is the Greek word
“prosdokaō” and
means “to expect (whether in thought, in hope, or in
fear), to look for, wait for” “the coming of the day of God”.
Those who are believers in Jesus Christ should be in a constant state
of looking for the coming day of God. There should be an expectant
attitude and demeanor toward His coming, and the behavior of the
Christian should reflect that he or she expects Jesus to arrive at
any time. Secondly Peter adds “hasting” which
is the Greek word “speudo”
and means “to haste, make haste, to desire earnestly”. Not
only should there be a state of expectancy, but there should be a
constant passion and desire for Jesus to return soon. Those to whom
Peter wrote in his day were no doubt people who expected Jesus to
return as much as we do currently.
The
verse goes on to say, “wherein the heavens being on fire shall
be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?” In
a conclusive fashion to the question that began in verse eleven,
Peter notes once again the dissolving of the heavens by fire and the
melting of the elements with “fervent heat”. As though his
readers were not motivated enough to continue in the faith of Jesus
Christ, Peter desires that they take seriously his forecast of the
destruction of not only earthly things but the heavens and their
elements as well. As we stated earlier, “it's all going to burn”
should be the believer's anthem, and as they continue in that vein
they must consider their own ways as they live day to day.
When we
think about the coming of God and the destruction of the heavens, its
elements, and the earth, we would do best to be in a state of
expectancy for the Lord to return. Our attitudes and behaviors reveal
whether we truly believe He will return or not. In light of this
coming judgment, perhaps there are a few areas within our lives that
need attention. Maybe our best position in advance of these judgments
would be to put ourselves before the Lord who will perform these
things and ask Him to reveal in us any way, attitude, behavior or
action that is contrary to Him. As the Psalmist wrote in Psalm one
hundred and thirty-nine and verses twenty-three and twenty-four:
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the
way everlasting.
Next
time we will learn about a new heavens and a new earth, 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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