Week 19, Day 94 -- Waiting for....? (2 Peter 3:1-18)
First-century Christians were waiting for the return of Jesus, and they believed that He was going to return soon, as “in my lifetime.” And yet nothing was happening. As a result, the taunts and criticisms of skeptics were increasing. And I can imagine some of them talking to Peter about it. “Hey, what gives, Pete? I thought Jesus was coming soon.” Peter: “He IS, He IS returning soon!” “Well, He must be on a different timetable than us!” That’s true! This conversation never took place, of course, but apparently there were people asking Peter about Jesus’s delay. Peter devotes 1/3 of his second letter to this issue.
First, Peter points to the words of the Prophets and of Jesus Himself. He reminds his readers that when God speaks, things happen, and since God’s Word says that Christ will return, then we can be sure that it will! Second, God’s timing is not our timing. What appears to us to be a very long delay is actually an opportunity for more people to come to know him (v. 15).
In the end, our energies are a bit wasted if we’re using them to worry about the when and where of Christ’s return. It will happen! God’s Word gives us a general idea of what it will look like and how it will unfold -- just enough to give us peace about it. Our energies are better spent asking this question: Since Christ IS going to return, and all of creation will be remade, then how should we live our lives as we wait for Jesus? Peter tells us: Focus on living “holy and godly lives” (v. 11). Then we’ll be drawing closer and closer to Jesus while we wait for that day when we meet him face to face!
Week 19, Day 94 -- Waiting for....? (2 Peter 3:1-18)
First-century Christians were waiting for the return of Jesus, and they believed that He was going to return soon, as “in my lifetime.” And yet nothing was happening. As a result, the taunts and criticisms of skeptics were increasing. And I can imagine some of them talking to Peter about it. “Hey, what gives, Pete? I thought Jesus was coming soon.” Peter: “He IS, He IS returning soon!” “Well, He must be on a different timetable than us!” That’s true! This conversation never took place, of course, but apparently there were people asking Peter about Jesus’s delay. Peter devotes 1/3 of his second letter to this issue.
First, Peter points to the words of the Prophets and of Jesus Himself. He reminds his readers that when God speaks, things happen, and since God’s Word says that Christ will return, then we can be sure that it will! Second, God’s timing is not our timing. What appears to us to be a very long delay is actually an opportunity for more people to come to know him (v. 15).
In the end, our energies are a bit wasted if we’re using them to worry about the when and where of Christ’s return. It will happen! God’s Word gives us a general idea of what it will look like and how it will unfold -- just enough to give us peace about it. Our energies are better spent asking this question: Since Christ IS going to return, and all of creation will be remade, then how should we live our lives as we wait for Jesus? Peter tells us: Focus on living “holy and godly lives” (v. 11). Then we’ll be drawing closer and closer to Jesus while we wait for that day when we meet him face to face!