November 17
Bible Reading: 2 Peter 3
2 Peter 3:3-7, “Knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”
Mt. St. Helens was about to erupt. Warnings were issued for people to leave the area, but Harry Truman refused to heed them. A National Geographic article recounted the story of what happened: “Old man Harry Truman (83) built a cabin by Spirit Lake on the slopes of Mt. St. Helens some 53 years ago. All those years nature remained consistent. But then the mountain started to awaken. Residents were asked to leave. Warnings were given. Park guards came to the cabin to tell him it wasn’t safe. TV and newspaper folks interviewed him. He said he could not live anywhere else. He was part of the mountain, and the mountain was part of him. He laughed at and cursed all his visitors. Then on May 18, 1980, the mountain exploded, and Harry Truman perished under hundreds of feet of volcanic ash.”
Though people scoff and disregard the truth, Jesus Christ is coming again. The word “scoff” translates a term which means “to play with, trifle with, deride, or mock.” It is the same term that used to describe the cacophony of abuse directed towards Jesus by sinners as He hung upon the cross. They mocked Him in His first coming (Matthew 27:29, 31, 39, 41) and they are even now mocking the promise of His return. They scoff because “all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation” (2 Peter 3:4).
John Piper has commented on their reasoning: “This is an amazingly modern argument for rejecting the supernatural, bodily Second Coming. It simply says the laws of nature are constant and unchanging. The sun has come up and gone down, the seasons have followed each other, the tides have risen and fallen for thousands of years in perfect order. Therefore, we must expect this constancy for the future, and any thought that the sky might be rolled up like a scroll and the earth purged with global, fiery judgment by the returning Christ is unimaginable and unwarranted. This is exactly the position of much modern science and there are hundreds of pastors and theologians in the churches and seminaries today who reject a physical second coming and future judgment for the same reason.”
John Piper
According to their false reasoning—and for the sake of the pursuits of their lusts—they “deliberately overlook” obvious realities (2 Peter 3:5). They deny the truth that God is the creator of the heavens and the earth (2 Peter 3:4; Romans 1:18-20). They likewise purpose to forget that God has previously exercised judgment when the world “was deluged with water” (2 Peter 3:6; Luke 17:26-30).
God has patiently withheld judgment. And though it seems to have been for an exceedingly long time, “with the Lord one day is a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8). “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
Some suggest that we should be extremely concerned about climate change and the effect it will have soon have on our planet, claiming that it presents an existential threat to humanity. They are right, it’s coming, but not in how they suppose. 2 Peter 3:7, “But by the same word the heavens and earth now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.” God has issued a warning. It’s left to us to take it seriously and respond accordingly (Matthew 3:7b, 2 Peter 3:11-13).
The book “Pilgrim’s Progress” depicts in its main character, “Christian,” a better response than that of Harry Truman. Having been warned of the pending destruction of his city, Christian felt great distress and could not rest until he found a means of escape. He fled for safety. We would do well to follow his example, looking to Jesus, who gave himself to deliver us (Galatians 1:4).
Jesus may come any time, so we should be ready all the time.
Time is now fleeting, the moments are passing,
passing from you and from me;
shadows are gathering, deathbeds are coming,
coming for you and for me.
Come home, come home;
you who are weary come home;
earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling,
calling, O sinner, come home!
LookingtoJesus 