Thursday 30 December, 2021

3 Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. 2 I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. 3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 8 But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

Have you ever broken a promise? I have, I’m sure we all have. This passage continues Peter’s earnest appeal to believers to be wary of false teachers & prophets that are actively leading young believers astray .. including those who scoff & raise doubt about the promise of Jesus’ second coming. (Matt 24:44, Rev 1:7-8, Rev 3:11, Rev 22:12-13, Acts 1:10:11)

Nothing has changed, there are still scoffers .. yet how many believers live as though the promise of Jesus’ return is not a current reality? Verse 9 reminds us that the Lord is not slow on his promises, I am grateful that He waited for me. We have just celebrated Christmas, the birth of our saviour which was prophesied/promised hundreds of years earlier, yet he came at the right time (Gal 4:4).

I don’t believe that Peter is writing to scare but to encourage us. Jesus will come again at the right time, perhaps he’s waiting for you to turn to him (repent) or others you know, he wants as many as possible to enter into the Kingdom. He has promised. It will happen.

Lord Jesus, let me never forget the promise of your coming again, help me to keep my eyes on that prize and not be distracted by the things & seasons of this world. Amen.

Written by Suzie Hodgson