PROACTIVE WAITING – II Peter 3:10-18

A central theme of Peter's admonitions to the early church facing the challenges of Christian faithfulness in their day is the necessity of a 'reckoning perspective'. His closing remarks reiterate and expand this concept and provide his readers an answer to the question: How do I keep the faith when I am surrounded by so many enemies? The context of Peter's words of exhortation and expectation parallel the structure of Isaiah's oracle and Jesus' teaching ministry. Peter references both the 'day of the Lord' and the 'new heavens and new earth' prophesies which frame the ministry of Isaiah, while the ministry of Christ concludes with references to waiting and final judgement. As a diligent apostle and disciple of his master, Peter has taken seriously the warnings and prophesies of Jesus recorded in Matthew chapters 23-25. In His final teaching, Jesus pronounces woes upon the scripture twisters of His day – the hypocritical scribes and pharisees who abused their influence and learning leading their followers astray. A day of reckoning was coming for them. Mat 24 and Luke 17 describe this day of the Lord's visitation in cataclysmic terms, invoking the 'event oracles' of Noah’s flood and Sodom's sulfur rain. Jesus concludes His teaching ministry in Matthew's record with the waiting and stewardship parables of the ten virgins, and the talents followed by the foretelling of final judgement (25:31-46). Thus Peter understands from the Word of God and the challenges of his day that waiting is dangerous and a reckoning perspective is necessary for the church to endure the trials in the mean time. Peter applies these teachings for the church of Asia Minor in no uncertain terms. The words of Isaiah, Jesus, and Peter are indispensable for us today. They answer the pressing questions that arise in times of great trial.