2 Peter 3:3-4 (NIV)
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."
When I
was a boy, growing up in church, I routinely heard about the imminent return of
Christ. To be honest, it scared me. I remember praying and asking Jesus not to
come back until I had the chance to… With my life just beginning the idea of
Jesus coming back and cutting it short wasn’t a positive thought. I have
matured beyond that point, at least I hope so.
The
question of the return of Christ and the last days has fascinated theologians
and church people alike. Another childhood memory I have is of a huge chart
that supposedly charted the course of human history right up to the coming of
the Lord. People have speculated for centuries about the meaning of “the last
days” and the return of Christ. Some have gone so far as to nail down a
specific date for His return. Of course they have all been incorrect.
As I was
growing up, prophecy about the last days was a hot topic. The entire “Left
Behind” series is a testament to that. Today we don’t hear so much about the
return of Christ. It is acknowledged as a theological truth, but not
necessarily as something to get to worked up over.
In my
devotions today, I was reminded that the return of Christ is something that we should
be preparing for. Between being obsessed with prophecy and ignoring the return
of Christ is a more biblical approach to the last days and the return of
Christ.
The
first thing we have to acknowledge is that the last days are not in front of
us, we are living in then right now. The world entered the last days at the
ascension of Jesus back into heaven. When Peter addressed the crowd on the day
of Pentecost he quoted from the prophet Joel. "'In the last days, God
says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will
prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. Acts
2:17 (NIV) Peter obviously believed that the last days were ushered in when the
Holy Spirit was given to the church at Pentecost. All of the first century
believers lived within the idea that they were living in the last days. So, I
think it is safe to say that we continue to live in the last days.
Peter
addressed this in-between time that we live in in his second letter.
2 Peter 3:3-13 (NIV)
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.
But do not forget
this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and
a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,
as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to
perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
But the day of the
Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the
elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be
laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people
ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring
about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the
heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven
and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
Let me
unpack a few truths that we need to keep in mind as we look forward to the
return of Christ.
First,
people will get impatient waiting for Christ’s return. They will begin to mock
the idea and turn away from the truth. There is no doubt that we live in such a
time. The idea of the return of Christ for many has become a curiosity or
something to be made fun of.
The
second thing to remember is that God is still in control and that the events of
earth are firmly in His hands. The end of the world is a sure thing. One day
God will close the final curtain on human history and the story will be over.
The
third thing to remember is that God is in control of the timetable not us. God’s
timing is different from our timing. He is in no hurry to put an end to His
creation. In fact, He is being extremely patient with us, wanting as many as
possible to turn to Him in faith and be saved.
The fourth
thing we need to remember is that Jesus’ return will catch us all by surprise. Peter
is echoing the words of Jesus when Jesus said that His return will be like a thief
in the night. All of our speculation about when Christ will return is
pointless, because Jesus said so.
The last
and I believe the most important thing to remember is that we need to do our best
to be ready when He comes. Peter asks the question, what kind of lives should
we live? He doesn’t say that we should go up on a hill, gaze into the sky and
wait for Jesus to come. He doesn’t say that we should spend endless hours
debating the mechanics of Christ’s return. What does he say? He says that we
should live holy and godly lives with a constant anticipation of Christ’s
return.
Jesus
gave several parables that highlight this exact point. He said that we are like
servants who have been left in charge of the master’s estate. The master
expects us to be about the business of the estate until he returns. In Matthew
24 we get one of the clearest statements about what Jesus expects from us as we
live in the last days. He says three important things that we should keep in
mind.
We don’t
know when He will return. No one knows about that day or hour, not even the
angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Matthew 24:36 (NIV)
He
expects us to be watching for His return. Therefore keep watch, because you
do not know on what day your Lord will come. Matthew 24:42 (NIV)
He
expects us to be busy doing what He has called us to do in the interim. Who
then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the
servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time? It will
be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns. Matthew
24:45-46 (NIV)
We are living
in the last days right now. Jesus could come back at any time. The real
question is how will He find us when He does. Will we be ready, living active
lives of service as we anticipate His return? Or will we be caught off guard?
Mark 13:32-37 (NIV)
"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven,
nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when
that time will come. It's like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts
his servants in charge, each with his assigned task, and tells the one at the
door to keep watch.
"Therefore keep watch because you do not know when the owner of the house
will come back--whether in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster
crows, or at dawn. If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What
I say to you, I say to everyone: 'Watch!'"
