2 Peter 3:8–14
Other Lessons: Psalm 85; Isaiah 40:1–11; Mark 1:1–8
The world today has become so fast that people become more and more impatient with things. We have instant noodles, rice, oatmeal that can be cooked within minutes with just hot water. We have microwaves that heat our food quickly and effortlessly (I don’t even know what life was like without a microwave!). We have computers that are faster and more powerful every month and when I try to use an older model I get irritated because it takes a longer time to perform tasks. We are used to flip through the channels during the commercials when we watch TV, but now we can skip that completely if we have internet or the dvd. The world today wants things quickly and conveniently. Will the world have time for Advent? Will the church have time for Advent? And more importantly, will the world wait for Christ’s coming? Every year it feels as though the world (perhaps most especially for those in the business) wants Christmas right after Halloween and then extend it to the end of the year. What the world wants is a Christless Christmas but still people try to maintain that joy and celebration, and the world is most certainly not waiting for his second coming. And sadly most of the world simply see this Jesus figure as a mythical being and his 2nd return is dismissed as an mere wishful thinking on the part of the believers. But what about the church? What about you? Will the church, the believers be found faithful when Christ comes? Have we also become impatient along with the world that we neglect the 2nd coming?
Peter, who wrote our epistle that we heard today, was combatting the same kinds of problem in the church of his day. The letter was probably written in the late 60s AD, most likely just before he was martyred in 68 AD. Indeed, people don’t need to wait 2000 years to start mocking the church about the delay in Christ’ return. It only took 30 to 40 years for false teachers and scoffers rise up and to ridicule this seemingly meaningless Christian teaching of Christ’s second return. They will ask “where is the promise of his coming? Everything has been continuing as it had been for centuries, millenniums, why would there be any change, why would there be an “end” of all things?” (v4). But here in the first part of the chapter (not in the selected passage), Peter argues that these people are selective in their memories because they neglect the fact that God had almost destroyed the world through the waters of the great flood. And now the present world is stored up for fire, that is, judgment and destruction.
Here Peter recalls the prophets and the apostle’ writings (v2), how they have been accurate in promising the first coming of Christ, therefore Peter assures us that Christ will definitely return, as was also promised in the scriptures. And he tells us in verse 10 that he will come like a thief, because he comes to suddenly and so unexpectedly. Some people wonder why the bible describe Jesus in this way, why not use a more positive image for his coming. Because for those who are expecting, those who do not have faith, as mentioned last week, those who do not have grace and peace with God, this is how Jesus’ return will be for them. It will not be a positive thing for them.
It will be a terrible day because not only are everything being destroyed. It’s not so terrible if it doesn’t quite concern you. But when it says all things will be destroyed, it means that everything you save up in this life becomes meaningless and futile. How many ancient kings and princes and mighty men try to take their possessions with them when they die? They built these impressive tombs for themselves so they can put everything in, but in the end, what can they bring after death? In the end of all things, the things that they have amassed will also be burned up to nothing. That’s why Jesus tells us to store up treasures in heaven where moth and rust cannot destroy. Where are your treasures today?
And on top of that all the deeds will also be exposed (v10). It’s fine if everything is just burned up with nothing left, but because everything is burned, all our deeds are exposed. The second return of Christ is not just to end the world as we know it. He comes not only to destroy but also to judge. And after that there will be no second chances, either you will be in hell or in heaven.
Are we prepared for all these?Look at your life, look at how you walk, your words and actions and thoughts, do you want them to be exposed, and will they pass God’s judgment? Ultimately, we have become impatient and impenitent. Impatient because we have stopped waiting and do not live a life of faith with the expectations of Christ’s coming. Impenitent because we do not recognize our own sins as though there are no consequences.
But Peter reminds us that God is not being slow or delaying his return but it is because he is still patient with us. His patience is not for us to become lazy and laxed and worldly, but it is an extension of his grace so that we may repent and bring others into the same repentance so that more people may be saved. And so we not only ask that God would stir up great expectation of the coming Christ (as we heard last week), but we ask and pray that God would also stir up repentance in our hearts, not just once or twice, not just when we feel bad about ourselves, but that by the working of the holy spirit, we would be stirred constantly.
He delays so that you may have time to repent and come to the knowledge of your salvation. The fact that this is for both unbelievers and believers shows that we also need to repent just like anybody else. We too need to hear the Gospel regularly and repent and be saved. For we would always like to think too highly of ourselves, pretending that everything is fine and all is well with our lives, but that is exactly the moment when we are most susceptible to temptations and fall.
In his first coming, our lord Jesus Christ was born as the servant king who had nothing, so that he could die as the sacrificial lamb for the sins of the whole world. There is nothing that you need to do for your sins anymore since it has been counted toward Jesus, and his perfect righteousness is counted toward you. You are already by virtue of baptism transferred into his kingdom and have eternal life. This is the heavenly treasure that we possess right now. Treasure it, invest in it, live by it. For all things will pass away but Jesus and his Gospel will remain forever. All our earthly possessions will be destroyed and come to nothing, but we have Jesus and his promise that will abide with us forever.
Therefore now is the time to repent. Now is the time to turn and reconsider your life and how you live it. We have this heavenly treasure that is by faith and so we live now by it. By faith we do not become like the world in dismissing or ignoring the 2nd coming. Will your life be about storing goods for yourself that will perish one day or will it be storing for the kingdom of God? During this season, we have a great opportunity to talk about the real meaning of Christmas, or at least say “Merry Christmas” when we are greeted with “happy holidays”. And also since a new fiscal year is coming up, it is a good time to consider your offerings. According to your abilities and your willingness, consider if you are able to increase your giving a little bit. Certainly I am by no means saying that your money can be stored up for heaven, but it is for the ministry so that the Gospel can be proclaimed without hindrance.
God has given us time so that we may repent and live for one another. As Peter says in verse 14, we are waiting with great expectation of the coming of Christ, therefore we are to be diligent in our daily lives to be found without spot or blemish in peace. It is not going back to a life burdened by dread and fear of God’s wrath and punishment, but it is a life of expectation and repentance and joy (which we will talk about next Sunday).