2 Peter 3

Welcome to The Safe Space! Where we last left off in the Bible, Peter now writes to awaken a clear and sincere understanding in the hearts of believers. He wants them to remember the words spoken long ago by the holy prophets and the command given by the Lord and Savior through the apostles. But Peter warns that in the last days, scoffers will appear. They will mock the promise of Christ's return, following their own desires and asking, "What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again?" They will argue that everything has continued just as it was from the beginning of creation, deliberately forgetting that God once created the heavens and the earth by His word, and that the ancient world was later destroyed by water. The present heavens and earth are being kept by the same powerful word, reserved for fire and judgment on the day when ungodly people will be destroyed. But there is something believers must never forget: to the Lord, a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. God is not slow about His promise, as some people think. Instead, He is patient, giving people more time to repent because He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. Yet the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a terrible noise, the elements themselves will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything upon it will be exposed to judgment. With such a future ahead, Peter asks what kind of people believers should be. Their lives should be holy and devoted to God as they look forward to the day of God and eagerly await His coming. According to God's promise, they are looking forward to new heavens and a new earth where righteousness lives. Because they have this hope, Peter urges them to make every effort to be found living peaceful lives, pure and blameless in His sight. They should remember that the Lord's patience gives people time to be saved. Peter points to Paul's letters, acknowledging that some of Paul's teachings can be difficult to understand and that ignorant and unstable people distort them, just as they do other Scriptures, bringing destruction upon themselves. So Peter gives one final warning: they already know what is coming, and they must not be led astray by the errors of wicked people and lose their own secure position. Instead, they are to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. And as the letter closes, Peter's focus remains fixed on Christ. To Him belongs the glory, both now and forever. Verse of the Day: Hebrews 11:8 It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. Question of the Day: What do you want to believe God for more of? For me: I want to believe that I can truly trust God with everything that's been me from developing into the version of me that God has created me to be.