“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 done 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, where righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:10-13, NIV).
How do you regard yourself today? Do you see yourself just like the ordinary people in the world? Do you think that you are similar with the rest of human beings? Or, do you see in yourself something different from the other persons?
As Christians, we need to realize that we are not just normal inhabitants of this planet – called in science fiction as “earthlings” -- it rhymes and connotes a lowly idea of such words as “ducklings” or “weaklings.” Realize that our citizenship is in heaven. Also, 1 Peter 2:9 stated, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession…”
We are not ordinary inhabitants of this earth. We are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession.
True believers are not just earthlings. They are holy human beings. They are in this world, but they are not of this world. They belong to God. They are His special possession. They don’t just have an erring, earthly fathers. They have their Heavenly, Holy Father.
So, if we consider ourselves as God’s children, we need to behave as holy, obedient chil-dren. We should be different from the other normal human beings, who just breathe, who find satisfaction in earthly good things, who just take good care of their body, who aim for honor, fame and earthly abundance, and regard sin lightly. In our case, it should not be. When we commit sin, we no longer think or say, “Anyway, I’m just an earthling.” Rather, we’ll be crushed and truly would repent, for failing to live up to the expectation of the One who purchased and owned us.
Considering ourselves as new creation in Christ is enough motivation to live differently. But there are other additional reasons, why we need to live… NOT AS EARTHLING, BUT HOLY HUMAN BEING… and that will be our topic as we deal with our text (2 Peter 3:10-13).
So, what other reasons why we need to live not as earthling, but holy being? Why should we “live holy and godly lives”?
Again, be reminded that 2 Peter was addressed then to the believers, who were exposed to false teachings and Peter encouraged them to hold on to the truth.
He pointed out that they have the Scripture that they could completely rely on, because its message was not just of men, but of God. And those who would distort it, or who would believe and live not in harmony with it would certainly suffer God’s punishment.
He also listed other activities of false teachers or false believers. They were even fellowship-ping with the true believers. And though they knew “the way of righteousness,” they turned their backs on the sacred command.
According to Peter, they were like “A dog returns to its vomit” and “A sow that is washed re-turns to her wallowing in the mud.”
And these people would cast doubts or distort the Word of God. But, he reiterated the certainty of what God declared, especially the catastrophic event that would happen in the future and the coming of the Lord.”
And in our text, Peter continued to paint the picture that would certainly happen when the Lord comes. At the same time, he pointed out the need why we ought to live a holy and godly lives. What are those reasons?
First, the destruction of the earth (verse 10).
Peter wrote in verse 10, “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 done in it will be laid bare” (verse 10).
The Apostle emphasized to his readers the certainty that “the day of the Lord will come…” And He will come during the time when it is not normally expected to happen. Just like when a thief would strike. You don’t know exactly what time he would come.
When a thief would come, he would take your valuables. When the Lord will come, He will destroy the earth. “The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare” or “be burned up,” as rendered in other manuscripts.
We could also return to verse 7, when Peter wrote: “By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”
So, in verse 11, he gave the encouragement: “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives…”
And who were these who “ought to live holy and godly lives”? Peter was not referring to the false teachers or false believers. He was not referring to the normal earthlings. He was speaking to those who have faith, as he pointed out in opening verse of the first chapter: “To those who… have received a faith as precious as ours.”
It is impossible for an ordinary earthling to obey God’s command, especially “to live holy and godly lives.” It’s like you are asking a quack doctor to perform a major heart surgery. Or, for a dead person or a mere skeleton to desire or choose to breathe again.
A bad tree cannot bear good fruit. He who is not born again, who has no faith and not given the right to become a holy, obedient children of God, perhaps, could memorize the whole Bible and even perform many wonderful works and yet at the return of Christ, He would call them “evildoers” (Matt. 7:23)!
What is acceptable, commendable in the eyes of the earthlings could be an abomination in eyes of the Divine Being.
And those who are given the right to become His children, who believed in His Son as their Savior, are not only forgiven for all their sins, but also clothed with holiness. And they ought to show in their lives the holiness bestowed on them by their Holy Father. Also, they should realize that any unholy or ungodly thing done in this world will perish together with the coming destruction of this earth.
God’s children, then, should not be fascinated by the ways and accomplishments of the earthlings – the unbelievers or false believers. No matter how fascinating, how pleasurable it is, it will surely come to a disastrous end.
So, instead of being tempted to follow their ways or to adopt their lifestyles, those who believed they are children of God, in spite of facing difficulties or oppositions, ought “to live holy and godly lives.”
How about us in the church – are we also determined to work out our own salvation – to display by our actions that we are indeed saved by Jesus? Are we committed “to live holy and godly lives,” because we consider ourselves as the recipient of grace to have the right to be obedient, holy children of God? Do we regard ourselves not just an ordinary human beings with earthly and imperfect human fathers, but with a Heavenly and Holy Father, whom we ought to emulate?
Do we, then, distance away from sin, bad habits, evil influences, wrong practices, attractive but distorted human teachings, ungodly desires that define the people in this world? And do we draw closer to our Holy Father in prayer and in reading, listening and studying of His Word, so we could be more familiar not only with His promises, but also with His holiness?
And as we realize also that destruction awaits this world, we should not patronize the attractive or pleasurable practices in it. To have more could be God’s blessings. But just to accumulate more and more – more praises from others, more accomplishments, more possessions, more entertainment, etc., but less and less time for God, less and less time for His Word, and no time for His Work in teaching others to become Christ (making others Christ’s followers) is not the behavior of those who are really waiting for the return of their King.
If we believe that He will destroy this present world, we will not spend our time, we will not direct our interest, we will not use our resources just to hold on to its ways and practices. We will never be tempted to imitate the behavior of those who are celebrating in this kind of world. Rather, we will “live holy and godly lives” – uprooting from our life the sinful habits and practices that this world had infested us; at the same time, reflecting to others the holiness and glory that our Glorious and Holy Father had shone on us.
What’s another reason why we should live holy and godly lives?
Second, the re-creation of the earth (verse 13).
We read in verse 13, “But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”
When Peter wrote those words, he could have in his mind the words of God in the Old Tes-tament, “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be re-membered, nor will they come to mind” (Isa. 65:17) and “As the new heavens and the new earth that I make will endure before me…” (66:22A.)
The Apostle pointed out to the believers that no matter what difficulties they were going through (e.g. as they struggled with false teachers or false believers) or what hardship would occur in the future – even the destruction of the earth – they could be certain that ultimately the wonderful promise of God for “a new heaven and a new earth” would come true. And along with them, they were “looking forward to” it. In other Bible translations, like the ESV, it is translated: “we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth…”
And that would be worth waiting for or worth looking forward to, because “righteousness dwells” in the place. No more false teachers there. No more false believers.
Also, they needed really to “live holy and godly lives” to be ready in that holy or righteous place. Not only that, as they make themselves more ready, they could “speed its coming!
Scholars commented today that, “The time of Christ’s coming is determined by the sovereign counsel of God, but it does not take place without reference to other events (also ordained by God).” What are those factors? The evangelization of the elect in all nations; prayer; and obedience, as Peter told the believers “to live holy and godly lives.”
Further, the scholars added: “Our actions do matter, and God has ordained that the second coming of Christ will occur in conjunction with our service to Him. As the church becomes more faithful, the return of Christ, from our perspective comes nearer, though from God’s perspective the day and hour is fixed eternally.”
So, true believers today should not just look forward to or wait eagerly in a passive mode for the return of Christ and for the re-creation of the heaven and earth. They should be in a passionate mode.
Passionate in promoting Jesus and His Word. Using resources – time, money, opportunity, skill, strength, whatever – to broadcast the splendor of the Savior and the wonder of His Word, helping, teaching, displaying how others could truly be fascinated in following the soon-coming King! Passionate in praying for God’s Kingdom to come on the new earth, not just for personal earthly gain. And passionate in obeying the will of the Holy Father – to live holy and godly lives.
How about us once young and young ones in the church – are we looking forward to or eagerly waiting for a new heaven and a new earth? Do we desire to speed its coming? Is there anything we are doing to make it happen?
After high school, I told myself that I would finish college within the period of three years. There were no short term courses in my time. So, in my desire to be employed at once, I planned that at 19 years I would now be a college graduate and ready to find a job.
So did I just follow what other students were doing normally? While others were having their good time every summer vacation, I enrolled in classes and continued my education.
If we want also to shorten the time of our waiting for a new heaven and a new earth, we need also to be busy praying for its immediate realization.
We need to be busy in knowing the Goodness of the Savior, so we could also be busy in making Him and His words known to more people. We need to have His words not just in our head, but in our heart. Why? Our Pastor quoted Isaiah 20:9 in the Monday night meeting, “But if I say, 'I will not mention his word or speak anymore in his name,’ his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.”
Though Jeremiah suffered insult, disgrace, opposition when he declared the message of God and he was even tempted to stop, but he confessed, “… his word (God’s Word) is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.” So, if the Spirit of the Personal Word (Jesus) is in us, His Word is planted by God in our heart, we will be busy promoting the true, unadulterated message of God’s Book and no difficulty could stop us.
And if we want to hasten for God to create a new heaven and a new earth, according to Peter, live holy and godly lives – busy in removing sinful habits and practices, busy in doing the things of God in worship and in His service. We would be busy not just like earthlings preparing for the future in this planet, but as holy and godly human beings preparing for the future in a new heaven and a new earth.
In closing, in science fiction, aliens – those from other planets – looked down on us as “earthlings” or “weaklings.” But, if we do not experience the new birth, if we do not become a new creation, according to God’s Word, we are far worse than “weaklings.” We may appear bubbling in life, strong and healthy, but in God’s sight we are dead. We are like dried branches or trees fitted to be on fire for destruction.
However, by the mercy of God, He chose us to receive His grace through Jesus. Through Him, we truly live. Through Him, we do not remain “earthling,” but we are given the grace to enable us to believe. So, we have the right to become children of God. And through Him, we also have the grace to enable us to live holy and godly lives.
