Father, it has already been a hectic week and we are just halfway through with much more to do. Strengthen me in mind, spirit, and body to accomplish what needs doing. Amen.
2 Peter 3:1-18 (<<click here to read the passage)
Roughly 2000 years ago, Lord, while living here amongst us, You spoke of Your eminent return. That has been quite a while, but the length of time that has passed or that has yet to pass has no bearing on the truth or validity of Your words.
People like to argue that there is nothing to Your promise because it was made so long ago. They could not be more wrong. You are coming back when You decide to return. Our timetable is not Your timetable. Peter admonishes us to not forget that “a day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.” v8b
Lord, You are not slow or hesitant – You are patient – You are long-suffering…and it is for our sake.
“[You do] not want anyone to be destroyed but [You want] everyone to repent.” v9c
You yourself said,
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
Several years ago, an old friend, Renita Koehn, and her husband Daniel ministered to my joint congregations through music. Daniel also dramatically delivered chapters 12-17 of the Gospel of John. After the service one of our young ladies came and asked me about John 12:25, wanting to know what it meant. It reads,
“Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.”
Absolutely nothing we accumulate here of a physical nature will remain. As the old adage goes, we can’t take it with us. Peter emphasized that everything on this earth will pass through the fires of judgment – it will all be destroyed. Only our souls and the things of the heart we have stored up will continue to exist.
I told this sweet young lady that when we lose a loved one that everything physical about it will one day be gone and that all that will remain will be our love and memories of them. Only what we do for Christ will remain. Lord, help me to live out Peter’s admonition.
“And so, dear friends, while You are waiting for those things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives than are pure and blameless in his sight.” v14 NLT
Amen. So be it.
(Mar 21st, 2017, Tues, 6:26 am)
Apr 26th, 2023, Wed, 7:04 pm
