Word@Work 2Pet26 - 2 Peter 3:3-7
Published: Mon, 09/14/09
Word@Work from BeaconLight
FACING MOCKERS
2 Peter 3:3-7 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.(NIV)
Although the civilised world is supposed to be a tolerant place, Peter is quite direct: scoffers will come (cf John 15:18-19)! It is all related to the nature of the Christian faith. Unlike the religionists of his day (and ours) Christians are unique in having a personal relationship with God through King Jesus, who has authority over everything and everybody. But human nature wants to ignore God's right to rule and those who do so are liable to mock anybody who accepts the authority of Jesus in their life.
Most people give no thought at all to the return of Jesus Christ, and the ensuing judgement. They assume that there will be no day of reckoning because they cannot see any evidence that God does that sort of thing: therefore they follow their own desires assuming no risk of having to account for their actions. But the evidence of God's judgement does exist. Noah's flood is the Bible's account of God's holy wrath in action. Although the story was well known, people of his day chose to forget that it was all about judgement. But God did not give Noah a huge boat building project just so that we might have a sentimental account about wildlife rescue! God is holy, and has given us a powerful example of what happens to unbelieving scoffers who refuse to be saved: they are overwhelmed by the consequences of their own disobedient desires.
In Noah's day, the long period of ark-building gave plenty of opportunity for the scoffers to repent. But they ignored Noah's message (cf 2 Peter 2:5) and had no excuse. In the same way, rejecting the gospel and mocking its messengers does not remove the certainly of judgement; it actually validates it. God has already appointed both the day of judgement and the judge (cf Acts 17:31). This has serious implications for the scoffers. Yet some believers are more troubled by the insults they receive than the need to see the mockers saved. If that is you, pray to recover a holy fear which restrains self and seeks the salvation of the lost.
Prayer: Dear Lord. Although it troubles me when friends or colleagues mock me because I believe in You, help me to see that they are literally 'playing with fire': their scoffing is evidence that they cannot see the seriousness of what they are doing. Please enable me to bear the load of ridicule, and also to pray for those who are in such peril. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
You can read the verses around this Bible passage from the Internet Bible: - in English, and many other languages
Although the civilised world is supposed to be a tolerant place, Peter is quite direct: scoffers will come (cf John 15:18-19)! It is all related to the nature of the Christian faith. Unlike the religionists of his day (and ours) Christians are unique in having a personal relationship with God through King Jesus, who has authority over everything and everybody. But human nature wants to ignore God's right to rule and those who do so are liable to mock anybody who accepts the authority of Jesus in their life.
Most people give no thought at all to the return of Jesus Christ, and the ensuing judgement. They assume that there will be no day of reckoning because they cannot see any evidence that God does that sort of thing: therefore they follow their own desires assuming no risk of having to account for their actions. But the evidence of God's judgement does exist. Noah's flood is the Bible's account of God's holy wrath in action. Although the story was well known, people of his day chose to forget that it was all about judgement. But God did not give Noah a huge boat building project just so that we might have a sentimental account about wildlife rescue! God is holy, and has given us a powerful example of what happens to unbelieving scoffers who refuse to be saved: they are overwhelmed by the consequences of their own disobedient desires.
In Noah's day, the long period of ark-building gave plenty of opportunity for the scoffers to repent. But they ignored Noah's message (cf 2 Peter 2:5) and had no excuse. In the same way, rejecting the gospel and mocking its messengers does not remove the certainly of judgement; it actually validates it. God has already appointed both the day of judgement and the judge (cf Acts 17:31). This has serious implications for the scoffers. Yet some believers are more troubled by the insults they receive than the need to see the mockers saved. If that is you, pray to recover a holy fear which restrains self and seeks the salvation of the lost.
Prayer: Dear Lord. Although it troubles me when friends or colleagues mock me because I believe in You, help me to see that they are literally 'playing with fire': their scoffing is evidence that they cannot see the seriousness of what they are doing. Please enable me to bear the load of ridicule, and also to pray for those who are in such peril. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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