As the apostle Peter
continued his words about the false teachers that would enter the
church, he mentioned “scoffers” that would be among them
who would ask, “where is the promise of his coming?” which
doubted Jesus ever would return as He said. In chapter three and
verse five Peter begins to share an example from history that
demonstrates others who behaved like these scoffers. He wrote:
For this they willingly
are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and
the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
The
verse begins, “For this they willingly are ignorant of,
that by the word of God...” Peter
again uses the word “for” to
begin this segment. It means “because, since, on account of, or by
reason of” and begins to share why these scoffers behave as they
do. He said, “they willingly”
or are “resolved, determined, purposed, with desire, fond of, take
delight in and have pleasure in” being “ignorant”
which means “to be hidden, to be hidden from one, secretly,
unawares, without knowing”. We notice what they are “ignorant
of” - the source of the truth - “by the word of God”.
These scoffers are determined to not know what the word of God has to
say about much of anything never mind the example that Peter employs
in his next phrase.
Peter wrote, “...the heavens were
of old,and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:”
The reference is to the
creation. Rather than believing that God was the Creator of the
Earth, these scoffers believe the Earth to have come from another
source. Evolution or “fortuitous events of accidental
circumstances” becomes their theme and thesis, and rather than
believe Genesis chapter one and verse one:
In the beginning, God
created the heaven and the earth
They
believe it to have occurred by natural transitions. The result of
this line of thinking is mocking or scoffing at the promises of God
or the return of Jesus Christ.
As
we think about the behavior of these who scoff at the word of God,
creation, and the return of Jesus Christ, perhaps it would benefit us
to examine our own beliefs once again. Do we really believe that God
was the Creator of the Earth? Do we have doubts that have crept into
our thoughts because of the arguments and persuasions of “scientists”
who scoff at the word of God but rely upon their ever changing data?
It may be a good idea for us to look at the book of Genesis once
again as we prepare for more of the words of Peter to be sure we are
standing in the truth of God's word and never convinced that anything
contrary to the word of God be our source of belief.
Next
time we will see more to Peter's description of what last day
scoffers are willingly ignorant, 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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