Elemental force
Opening Prayer
Almighty Lord, thank You that You are fulfilling all that You have promised.
Read 2 Peter 3:1–7
[1] Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. [2] I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. [3] Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. [4] They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” [5] But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. [6] By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. [7] By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What do the scoffers deny?End-of-the-world scenarios can make good entertainment, especially when they involve gigantic asteroids threatening the Earth, or giant alien squid intent on conquering us for the glory of giant alien squidkind! Some plots are even, very loosely, based on the biblical prophecy of Christ’s return in full heavenly splendor to judge those who reject him and rescue the righteous for them to reign with him over a renewed creation. Why is it in the interests of scoffers that Jesus has not returned yet (3,4)? Consider how offensive the idea of judgment might sound to non-Christians (7). But a belief in Christ’s return entails an acceptance of his right to judge all creation. It all has to do with the basis of his claim: “all things have been created through him and for him” (Col. 1:15–20). Once more, Peter the master pastor takes us back to Scripture (2) to reassure us that because God has acted according to his promises in the past (6) he will not fail to do so in the future. Being both faithful and unchanging, he will never fail us.
Apply
Which promises do you struggle to accept? Meditate and pray that God will make them real in you.
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