2 Peter Chapter 3
The main theme of this chapter is that the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night (10). The front part of the chapter exhorts us to not be scoffers – people who wilfully forget His power and choose to not believe in the second coming.
Most of us today probably do not doubt or question the fact that Jesus will come again and the heavens and earth will be destroyed.
However, I think the bigger issue today is that we have grown numb to the fact that this world will one day be destroyed.
But the second half of this chapter remind us that the day of the Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night, and everything on this earth destroyed.
But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. – 2 Peter 3:8-9
These two verses tell us that the seemingly long time before His second coming is because God is patient towards us, and hopes for all to come to repentance. We hence ought to make use of this time to preach the Gospel to others, that they may come to the truth and be saved.
Beyond just spreading the Gospel, we ought to introspect and look at ourselves too. As we lead our lives now, we ought to set our minds on things above, and not on things on this earth (Col 3:2).
As mentioned in verse 10, all the elements will melt with fervent heat, both the earth and its works will be burned up. Rather than being caught up in the tides of this world, pursuing various dreams and ambitions, we ought to lead our lives in holiness and godliness (11) – always remembering that the day of the Lord is coming, and always looking forward to the promise of salvation (12-13).
We tend to put in a lot of effort into our other pursuits in our lives, while neglecting our faith. But verse 14 exhorts us to be diligent, that we may be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless. We are often diligent for matters of this world – for our studies, our career, our hobbies.
Yet when it comes to our faith, it is very easy for us to become complacent and think we are doing enough. But this is not what the Bible teaches us! Philippians 2:12 exhorts us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. The epistle to the Hebrews, which we read not too long ago, tells us to take heed lest we drift away (Heb 2:2), or fall short of entering His rest (Heb 4:1).
The second epistle of Peter ends off with a reminder to be steadfast – we should not be led away with the wicked and we ought to keep growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ (17-18). Peter wrote this epistle knowing that he did not have much time left (2 Pet 1:14).
Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. – 2 Peter 1:10