“Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.” (II Peter 3:14)
Did you ever think it was going to quit snowing last month? Seriously??? It was like being trapped in one of those snow globes and getting shaken by a kid who ate too much sugar. Shake. Shake. Shake. Shovel. Shovel. Shovel. Drifts higher and higher and it seemed they would last till fireworks lit the 4th of July. Still, you knew eventually, spring would come and the heat of the sun would melt winter and the over-dosed on sugar kid would get bored shaking or go home.
Even so, do you ever kind of feel like life is a continuous shake, snow and shovel? Our world is shaken by interminable wars and rumors of wars and violence. Injustice and corruption and vice and selfish pursuits fall like the incessant white powder of a nor’easter. And we shovel and shovel and shovel some more, but it seems we’re just surrounding ourselves with big drifts of strife and loss and exasperation.
The word of God assures us “Spring is coming.” The Apostle Peter speaks of fiery trials (I Peter 4:12-19) and all the rubbish that piles up in a false and fallen world. He tells us the scoffers will say, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” (II Peter 3:4) In other words, spring isn’t coming, so lets just play in the snow, and eat, drink and be merry till we die!
NO! Peter responds, “For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.” (3:5-7) This is our Father’s world! Spring will come as promised.
What seems delay is actually the love and mercy of our Creator. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” (vs.9) He loves us. Amazing! Amazing grace.
BUT, the day of the Lord will come. And the elements and the earth and its works, and the snows “will melt with fervent heat” and be burned up. (vs.10) “Therefore,” Peter asks, “since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God…?” (vs.11,12)
As Christians we are to pursue holiness and godliness. We are to use our God given time, treasure and talents to reach the perishing. Our lives should resonate with spotless character and a blameless reputation. (J. MacArthur) And we should be found by God and man in peace, because we’re looking forward to the coming of promised Spring.