2 Peter 3:8–14

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. 11Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! 13But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. 14Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.

People do not like waiting.   Yet, as Christians we are living in the season of waiting.  We are waiting for our Lord!    Like impatient children in the back seat of the car on a long trip, we wonder will we ever see the Lord’s arrival.  Perhaps part of the problem for people is that they have become impatient with all the wickedness God seems to let slide.  In other words, we may be impatient with God’s patience, accusing Him of being slow.  Saint Peter says, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (9).  The Holy Spirit is reminding us that God’s patience is for a gracious and glorious purpose.  If Christ returned just to bail us out the first time we called, think of all the souls who would be lost!  It is easy to forget when we are facing troubles and trials, that God loves all the people of the world and that Christ died for them too! 

Peter reminds us that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief,” and every physical thing humanity values will be “burned up and dissolved” (10), buildings, cars, etc.   Knowing that God is patient, that Jesus will return, and the current creation will be cleansed with fire,  Peter asks, “what sort of people ought you to be” (11).  In First Peter chapter one, it says we ought to live “as obedient children,” not being “conformed to the passions of [our] former ignorance, but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (cf. 14-15), but sadly too often we are not.  But the Good News is that for us the Son of God left the splendor of heaven to live in this world that is anything but holy and godly.  That for us God’s Son humbled Himself as a Servant.  That for us the Son of Man went to the cross and the grave and rose again.  That for us, Jesus will return in glory and gather His Church.  God promises on the day of Christ’s Second Advent, He will make “all things new” (cf. Rv. 21:5).   The new heavens and earth is the place “in which righteousness dwells” (13b).

God’s new creation will be “the dwelling place of God . . ..  He will wipe away every tear from [our] eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4).  To be sure, like kids in the back seat we may doubt, question, and even tread dangerously close to the edge of unbelief.  St. Peter knew the feeling, that is why he can be God’s spokesman.  That is why he can encourage us to be patient and avoid getting ourselves so tangled up with temporal matters that we neglect the eternal and ignore God’s promise.

Unlike those who doubt or ignore Christ’s promise to return in judgment, as patient Advent people of God we look with eager anticipation for it.  Rather than being caught unaware of His return, by remembering the gifts of our Baptism, we are prepared for His coming again in glory.  With confident hope in the promises God has given us, we look forward every day to being delivered from this sinful world and into the eternal presence of our Savior.  Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word: Amen.  (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17).

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