A bold warning and strong admonition is put forth in 2 Peter 3. I love Peter’s plain speaking. He begins by cautioning that difficult times would come in the last days. “Knowing… shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts…” (v.3). The onslaught of those opposing truth is sure to accelerate. But what are they scoffing at?
These scoffers will mock the second coming. “Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (v. 4). They argue that things will remain like they have always been, and Jesus would not return for His followers.
Scoffers deny God’s promises through ignorance that breeds arrogance. Their worldview does not allow for divine interventions, and they reject supernaturalism. Thus, they end up depending more on the created order than the Creator. This dependence leads them to view the temporal as eternal. They misunderstand that everything around us will be destroyed, because they ignore the fact that it already was destroyed once (V. 6).
And the idea that men are ultimately accountable to a holy God is dismissed by scoffers as make-believe and fantasy. The notion that history has purpose and a divine plan has no place in the scoffer’s worldview. Yet, the scripture declares that the current earth is on hold— “reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men” (v. 7). Holy anger is repulsive to those who suppress the truth.
God, in patience, is holding back His wrath which will be displayed in time. The Lord has an eternal perspective— “One day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (v. 8). Time means nothing to the Eternal One! Thousands of years have passed since the beginning. But in the larger scheme history is moving toward a definite conclusion.
God has emphatically announced that His plan will be executed right on schedule. The LORD is not slow to fulfill His purpose. His patience is holding back because He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (v. 9).
Rest assured that awful day will arrive unexpectedly like “a thief in the night; in which… the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (v. 10).
The current world will disappear— “Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? (v.11). In light of this staggering reality; how holy, sober, and reverent we should be!
God’s purpose and plan include “new heavens and a new earth,” where righteousness will prevail (V. 13). It is almost impossible to imagine a world where honesty and righteousness are the norm, but take heart because a better day is coming!
So Peter exhorts us to fix our eyes upon the ultimate priority— “Be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless” (v. 14). Holiness of heart and life is the most important thing.
The wrangling of the ungodly, and the ridiculing of the scoffers, can erode a sincere believer’s strength. So Peter alerts us to be on guard. “Beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness” (2 Peter 3:17). There is the danger of scoffers turning us into skeptics! He warns about being carried away by the influence of lawless people. There is the distinct possibility of losing our steadfastness/stability. And this must be avoided at all costs.
Regardless of what the world is thinking or doing, our business is to remain single-minded, wide-awake, and not lose our footing in hazardous times. When we sense we are slipping or drifting, we must take ourselves in hand by reminding ourselves of these timeless truths. We cannot adopt a careless and sloppy mindset. We must remain grounded, steadfast, and upright in the midst of godless antagonism.
The battle is intense and will increase. This letter closes with an admonition— “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (v. 18). Simply put, we must press on in faith. Why? Because Jesus is coming again, just as He promised!!!
Harold Vaughan
