Peter as Pastor - Not to Be Forgotten - 2 Peter 3 (P 32)

We have come to Peter's last reminders and instructions to his readers - his "beloved".  Who in your life is "beloved"?  I have viewed Peter all throughout this Bible study as a man of passion.  He not only loves his fellow believers ... they are "beloved".  That adjective descriptor means one who is "greatly loved; dear to the heart."  Over the top ... that's our Peter ... that's his love.

Read 2 Peter 3: 1 - 13

Peter returns to the theme he wrote about in chapter 1, before he got distracted by the warnings against false teachers.  This theme seems to be prominent in his mind.  It seems that Jesus' delay in returning was seriously undermining many believers faith.  So Peter reiterates what he has told them before.

It WILL happen.  Jesus IS returning.

The ancient prophetic writers promised it.

The apostles promise it.

Jesus Himself promised it.

Those who ridicule this truth will meet their own destruction.  

Peter also reminds his "beloved" of something about God that we, also, forget ALL THE TIME!
God does not work on human time lines.  Linear time is a thing of this created world.  It is human. Jehovah God exists outside of linear time.  We cannot, indeed must not, apply human standards of timing onto God.  Peter encourages his readers to quit doing that.  Jesus is returning.  The fact that it had not yet happened did not diminish the truth.

What is going on in your life right now that could use this reminder?  What prayers do you continually bring before your Father that SEEM to go unanswered?  Perhaps you, too, could use Peter's reminder to quit applying human timing to God.  Will you trust Him?  Any chance God knows more than you do?  Never forget Peter's words:  "The LORD is not slow about His promise, as some think of slowness ...".

Peter reminds ... again ... that we are in a time of waiting ... a time of faith ... waiting for the new heavens and the new earth.  Times of waiting are hard.  We don't like to wait.  For anything!  But some things are worth waiting for, are they not?  The new heavens and the new earth.  Anticipation. Dream about what it will be like.  We know from John's writings in Revelation that the pain, the sorrows, the tears that mark this current earth will be gone.  John also tells us that we won't even need the sun because beautiful light will stream from the throne of God.  Reread those phenomenal descriptions in Revelation 21 - 22.  It will thrill your soul again.  Anticipation.  It's coming.

I am reading from the New Revised Standard version this morning.  And I love the way these translators translate Peter's words in 2 Peter 3:13:

But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.

Righteousness is not "at home" in our current world - regardless of what country or what part of any country you live in.  Righteousness is certainly not at home in our politics, in our business practices, in our treatment of peoples, in the distribution of the the world's wealth, in justice, and sometimes, even in our churches.  I long for a time and a place where righteousness is "at home".  Where it is the "norm".  I want to live there.  I want to make my home there.

It's coming ...