Life In The Light Of Christ’S Second Coming
LIFE IN THE LIGHT OF CHRIST’S SECOND COMING
2 PETER 3:14-18
In the light of these verses, how should the fact of Christ’s second coming affect how we live?
Peter sets two ideals before his readers. When Christ comes they should be “without spot or blemish” (3:14; see also 3:11; Ephesians 5:27). We are not called to approximate to some abstract ideal. We are to let the Holy Spirit work out the perfection of what we are. God made us all different, and those differences are preserved in time and doubtless in eternity. It is the flaws and stains for which God is not answerable that are to vanish. Then we are to be “at peace” (3:14). Does the thought of his coming stir any fears in us? If so, we are not at peace with him. Do our circumstances create anxiety in us? Then we do not enjoy his peace, ie God’s riches in Christ Jesus.
We sometimes complain that there are things hard to understand in the Bible, as though God were small enough to be comprehended by our formulas. Even Peter, the fisherman, found Paul, the scholar, hard to understand at times (3:16). Where we find such difficulties, we should humbly tell God and others that we do not understand. Not so the proud. They must find a meaning, even if they twist the Scriptures and deduce doctrines dishonoring God and harmful to people (3:16f.).
Peter’s last word is “grow” (3:18). That is one of the wonders of being a Christian. We have all eternity to grow in, and eternity will be inadequate to exhaust the wonders of God.