5 Minute Read
Prepare Your Heart
To the best of your ability, get rid of all distractions. Take a few minutes to breathe deeply and quiet yourself in the Lord’s presence. Then, ask the Lord to speak to you in this time. Let Him know that you will listen and make whatever adjustments He will reveal to you.
Read God’s Word
A Verse for Today
Slowly and reflectively read the following verse(s) and listen to what God will say to you through His written Word. Consider writing down any insights He reveals to you.
2 Peter 3:10-13 (CSB): “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat. But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”
Reflecting on God’s Word
The verses I have chosen for today give the clearest description of how all of Creation will be destroyed as the New Heavens and New Earth arise out of the ashes. Let’s take each verse at a time to see what we can learn.
2 Peter 3:10 (CSB): “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.
The phrase “day of the Lord” refers to the time when God pours out His judgment upon the earth and provides salvation to His people. While we are currently living in the last days (that began when Jesus ascended to Heaven in Acts 1), “the day of the Lord” is still in the future. The hammer has not dropped yet.
That day will come “like a thief.” Peter didn’t mean that God would take what didn’t belong to Him. Instead, he meant that just as a thief seeks to catch someone off guard, so will Jesus’ coming catch everyone off guard, except for believers who were looking forward to His return.
Peter said that all of the created order would “pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved.” Clearly, biblically-minded Christians believe in global (universe!) warming. God will destroy with fire everything He created in Genesis 1-2. Just as God created all things out of nothing, the day described in 2 Peter 3:10 will see all things go back to non-matter and non-existence.
On that day, judgment will take place as all unbelievers stand before Him to assess their lives before sending them to Hell forever.
2 Peter 3:11 (CSB): “Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness”
Peter’s line of logic is this: “Since God is so clearly furious at sin and will destroy the earth and its inhabitants that tolerated and embraced it, don’t you think believers had better be serious about following Jesus and killing sin in our lives and seeking to shine the Gospel light in a dark culture.”
2 Peter 3:12 (CSB): “as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat.”
When Peter said, “the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat,” he was saying that matter will go back into non-matter. That’s why we read in Revelation 20:11 that unbelievers at the judgment will seek to flee from His presence, “and no place was found for them.” They cannot hide because nothing exists to hide behind.
2 Peter 3:13 (CSB): “But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”
If we dwelt on 2 Peter 3:10-12, it could create anxiety within our hearts. If we use our imagination to enter the experience of those verses, it could create terror in our hearts. So Peter concludes by saying that believers have nothing to fear. We don’t look forward to the devastation and judgment. Instead, we look forward to the day when all things will be made new in perfect righteousness.
When God created Adam and Eve, he created a perfect universe with two humans created innocent. They had no sinful nature, so sin had no particular tug on their hearts, unlike us. The New Heavens and Earth will be a completely remade, perfect Creation. However, this time, humanity won’t merely be created innocent. We will be made fully righteous, delighting in perfect obedience to our God, and incapable of sin. Talk about a Heaven on Earth! That’s what we’ve got waiting on us! I can’t wait!!!
Spend Time in Prayer
- Ask God to help you understand just how seriously He takes disobedience to His clear commands in Scripture.
- Ask the Lord to help you take seriously His call for you to be holy and live righteously in the power of His Holy Spirit.
- Ask God to help you shine the light of His love and Word into a dark culture that so desperately needs it.
Going Deeper
If you want to dig a little deeper into the place that awaits everyone who is trusting in Jesus to make them right in God’s eyes, consider reading the following GotQuestions article:
“What are the new heaven and the new earth?”
Sharing
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Matt Ellis is the pastor of White Hall Baptist Church in Richmond, Kentucky (whitehallbaptistchurch.org)
Matt’s Musings 