I spent some time today being encouraged & challenged in 2 Peter 3. There were four big take aways for me…I thought I’d share them in hopes that others might be spurred on as well.
- ‘Peat (as in repeat) – Peter mentions (for the 2nd time in this letter – cf. 1:13) that one of his purposes for reaching out to those who have received a faith of the same kind (1:1) is to repeat or remind them of certain key truths (3:1). Peter knows that we are forgetful people. We need to be reminded daily of who God is so that our hearts can dwell in their proper place. The lessons we learned from yesterday’s pain are washed away by today’s prosperity and so it’s good to have truth repeated to our hearts.
- People – God loves people and not just a little. Peter, in answering the question, “why has God delayed His return” makes it real clear that God loves people and does not wish “for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” (3:9). God’s love for those who don’t yet know Him is so great that He’s perfectly willing for His children to suffer temporal pain and loss as He delays His coming. In other words, this ride is not about me and my personal comfort.
- Possessions – It’s all going away (3:10). One day, when the patience of God runs out (& Scripture is pretty clear that day is coming) it’s all going to be destroyed. The heavens will pass away with a roar, the elements will be destroyed & the earth and its works will be burned up. Everything as we know it will be gone – completely and utterly gone. All the cars, the houses, the bank accounts, the clothes…all gone (to be replaced by a new heavens & a new earth – cf. 3:13).
- Purity – And so based on these truths Peter asks THE question – since God’s slowness is patience & since it’s all to be destroyed, what sort of people should we be (3:11)? His answer – we should be people who conduct ourselves in holiness and godliness (v. 11) and in peace, spotless & blameless (3:14).
To sum it all up: if you have come to know God through faith in Jesus Christ and you understand His love for humanity, His definite plans to return & the temporal nature of all that we own then your attitudes towards people, possessions and purity should be shaped by this knowledge.
