In The Word
Read 2 Peter 3:11-18
Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless, and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; just as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, wrote to you, as also in all his letters, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which the untaught and unstable distort, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures, to their own destruction. You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
We Christians are instructed not to put our faith and hope in this world but in the one to come. We are told to live like aliens and strangers here. We are to live for the next life, not just this one. There is a new heaven and new earth coming. Our Savior and King of that new heaven and new earth is also coming. We must spend our time preparing ourselves for that day. We must live a life worthy of His kingdom and of our calling. We do this by living a life of holy conduct through the power of the Holy Spirit within us. This takes diligent work on our part. However, many unprincipled men will twist the scriptures to accommodate complacency and sloppy conduct. We are not saved by our works but by the work of Christ on the cross. However, we can be identified by the work of the Holy Spirit within us when others see proof of Christ through the way we live our lives. This takes diligence on our part to learn and grow in Christ. We don’t earn salvation, but, at the same time, we should be ready for the Savior. When unprincipled people try to have you abandon your quest and goal to be pure, holy, and blameless, steer clear of them. Keep your eyes on the prize and don’t get caught up in the world because it’s going to be destroyed. Instead, live for the One that is eternal.