2 Peter 2:10-13 says...

Today's verses are 2 Peter 3:10-13 which read,

10 - But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.
11 - Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, 
12 - looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! 
13 - But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

Peter is talking of a change, a huge change, that is coming.  It could lead into a full study of the book of Daniel and Matthew and Revelation.  The end of earth and heaven as we know it and what is to come is the fact that is being stated here.  The destroying factor will be some intense heat.  Peter speaks of this as common knowledge of those who are reading and listening.

Peter then gives us not a question but a statement even though it sounds like a question.  "...what sort of people ought you to be..." sounds like a question but it is a statement formed as a question that we already know the answer to or should know it.  4 things are given here.

"...holy conduct..." - saintly manner of life"...godliness..." - reverence, respect, piety toward God"...looking for..." - to expect"...hastening..." - to desire earnestly

So as this fact is approaching (the destruction of heaven and earth by intense heat) we are to live with a deep respect toward God that is displayed in every aspect of our lives with the outlook of expectation to His coming again.  God's promise of a new heaven and a new earth where righteousness dwells is to be our utopia. 

I think the simple lesson here is to not lose sight of heaven as you live your daily life.  It would probably change what we buy and why we buy it.  It would probably change what we say and how we say it.  It would probably change what we do and why we do it.  If heaven was on our minds more as a fact than just a goal, we would probably speak more freely about the God of heaven and earth.

Peter speaks of it as a fact and therefore we are to live our lives in light of the fact of a coming kingdom in which Jesus will reign.  It is part of the gospel message.  We are saved and being saved but not just from the forgiveness of sins but also saved to a life that reflects a present and future with Jesus Christ our Lord.  "The best is yet to come" is a great phrase in light of this passage.

Pastor Adam
A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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