2 Peter 3: 5--7
...It escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed
long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, through
which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water, but
the present heavens and earth by His word are being reserved for fire,
kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
NASB
In the name of the One Who sustains all things, amen.
The passage here speaks of those who scoff at Jesus' promise that He is
coming quickly. Now they look at history and realize that nearly two
thousand years have gone by since that promise was made. They ask,
"Where is He?"
It is easy for us to take the same attitude. We get up in the morning,
go to work or school, eat, watch TV, sleep, and start over again. Where
is He? But St. Peter reminds us that Jesus spoke the word that He would
return soon. He also spoke the word and created the heavens and earth.
Now, by His holy word the world is kept for the day of judgement. It
will be a day of judgment and destruction for those who scoff at His
word.
Let us not be among those who scoff. Rather let us remember the
prophecies which are all fulfilled even in our time. Like new born
babies, let us look in wonder at all that is going on around us. Are
there wars and rumors of wars? Are there fires and floods, earthquakes,
signs and wonders in the sky? The answer to all of these is an emphatic,
"Yes!" But what about the final tribulation? What about the great
falling away? What about the uniting of the world to make war against
the lamb and His saints?
When Jesus was born people were looking for an earthy kingdom. Now when
He is about to return, are we looking for a physical war fought with
tanks and bombs rather than a spiritual war fought with paper and video
monitors? Tanks and bombs have yet to come close to making the elect
(God's chosen ones, i.e. all who are finally saved) fall away from the
faith. But false doctrine taught by friendly teachers, pornography on
TV, and moral teachers who deny salvation in Christ alone like Doctor
Laura do come close to it.
In Jesus' day one had to work at fulfilling the desires of the flesh.
Now we go on line and can fill our souls with horrendous evil. It used
to be that you had to go somewhere to hear people twist scripture and
deny Christ as God, now we turn on the radio.
It is time for us to wake up and look around. Christ is coming, He is
coming soon. This is a reminder for us to get our own lives in order.
It is also a reminder to reach out to others while there is still time.
But finally, it is a joyful promise that our Savior is coming to save us
from this evil age before it is too late. The promise is there for us.
May the promise make us strong as we continue to fight the good fight!
Amen.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, it is easy for us to forget that we are soldiers in the unseen
war. Give us your Spirit of discernment and wisdom, make us mighty with
the weapon of Your Holy Word, keep us in true faith fighting to rescue
the many lost souls all around us, amen.