2 Peter 3:11-13 says,...

Today's verses are 2 Peter 3:11-13 which read,

v.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,...

Peter is saying to his readers, "Since this fact is going to happen (Jesus is coming again) we need to live lives that are focused on glorifying God and reverent to His words and His ways."  It sounds like Peter is asking a question here but it is really a straight forward challenge to us to change our focus knowing the fact of Jesus' return.  It is a question that you ask even though you know what the answer is but you need to act upon it.

v.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!

Peter states again the fact that there will be day when all that we see and experience will be no more so that something new can take its place.  As Christians we are to be "hastening" or "eagerly desiring" that day.  Is part of your identity in and to Christ that forward looking to that day?  Maybe it is a call to sing more "heaven" songs in our church services.


v.13 - But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

If you would like to cross reference this new heaven and earth you can go to Psalm 102:25, 26 and Isaiah 65:17 and 66:22.  What is new?  Not only is it new in the sense that the old is gone, not only new in the sense of time (the old has past away and the new now has come), but also new in the difference of what resides there.  The new heavens and the new earth has righteousness dwelling there.  Here are some more cross references for that:  Isaiah 60:19-22 and Revelation 21:1-7.  

I think this is something we will be "blown away" by.  I think our churches are little havens of this but this will be on the "grand" scale.  What we cherish so much in the family of God among brothers and sisters in Christ will be multiplied many times over when the righteousness of God dwells in everything.  This is the motivation that Peter is pointing out to his readers to encourage them to live their lives to experience that day.

"Lord, help me to think of heaven today.  Put a song on the radio or in my playlist that speaks of the day that is coming and help me to stop and rejoice in it.  Amen."

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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