Friday 4 May, 2018

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.

Here Peter uses the phrase ‘The day of the Lord’, which is a term used in multiple Old Testament prophesies referring to a day of God’s judgement.

We are told some things about this day:

1. It will come unexpectedly
2. It will involve the disintegration of the heavens and earth
3. All the works of the earth will be subject to the scrutiny of God’s judgement

In light of the coming disintegration of the material world and the judgement of our work, how should I be living?

If the material universe is to be destroyed, surely I would be foolish to place all my stock in material things. If we count our worth by material possessions, then when it is dissolved, we will have nothing.

Instead I should place my greatest efforts toward spiritual things – towards building God’s Kingdom which is eternal, not temporal. Jesus said, “When you pray, say, Thy Kingdom come Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.”

I am challenged to consider where am I focusing too much on things that will pass away, rather on the eternal things that will not burn up in the fire?

Lord God, help me to daily keep my focus on praying and working towards Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on the earth.

Written by Shelley Witt