The Day Will Come

2 Peter 3:8-13English Standard Version (ESV)

8 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. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,[a] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies[b] will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.[c]

11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting 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! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II+Peter+3%3A+8-13&version=ESV

Our God is so patient that He has tarried over 2000 years to return to this earth.  Why so long?  According to His word, 2,000 years is merely 2 days.  What is 2,000 years in eternity.  I have to think of the old hymn, Amazing Grace, “When we’ve been there 10,000 years bright shining as the sun, we’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we first begun.”  So it is with God, He isn’t in a hurry, He is waiting patiently for us to bring His Word to everyone.  With technology and travel, there is really no excuse for us to not reach all ends of the earth. 

Just think, if the Lord would have returned shortly after the writing of this scripture, none of us would have ever experienced life, let alone a life with Him.  The Native Americans that were on this earth at that time would not have ever heard of the saving grace that Jesus gave to us on the cross.  No one even knew they existed or they probably would have been on their way to evangelize.  They strove to spread the Word as far as they could take, being shipwrecked, beaten, stoned, and even killed but they did not reach America for many years to come.  It seems, from history, that the Pilgrims tried to evangelize the Native Americans but at the same time they were looking for a new country of their own, their purpose was not to Evangelize, thus conflict ensued.

I was struck by verse 12, “waiting and hastening the coming day of the God”.  I have heard people pray that the Lord come quickly but this verse seems to stress that we need to be doing our part in this hastening.  We need to be spreading the Gospel to those around us who do not know Him.  We need to be vigilant in our purpose of spreading the Gospel.  If we want the Lord to return quickly, we need to be acting as though it depends on us while knowing that it depends on Him (Something I took from The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson, if you haven’t read it, you should).  We need to be doing our part to make sure others are given the opportunity to meet Jesus. 

There will come a time when God will know that it is the end.  It will not be a joyous day for Him because not all of His children will live in His presence but at the same time it will be a glorious reunion for all of us.  That is why He waits and gives us a chance to spread His light to all.  As you pray for His return, think about what you may be doing to help speed it along.  Seek Him today and ask Him whom He wants you to share with this day and in the coming days.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

The End Will Come

2 Peter 3:1-7

English Standard Version (ESV)

3 This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, 3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” 5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II+Peter+3%3A+1+-+7&version=ESV)

The closer it comes to the end, the more we see scoffers, those who laugh and reject the Word of God.  Their end is coming but not by the work of man but by the work of God.  It will come in His perfect timing, not ours.  They may think that evidence points to no God but they are so wrong.  They may think that all they have to live for is themselves but they are mistaken. 

God does not want any of us to suffer, so, He gives us evidence of His existence in many ways, yet people reject Him.  I can look up at the stars and the moon and know that my God created each and everyone of them.  I can stare into space not knowing what more He has created far beyond my eyes.  I can look in a telescope and see things that exist that I never knew existed, yet I still cannot see all that He has created.  There is so much more that He has done that we have no clue of.  I must praise Him, the creator and destroyer of all things. 

I certainly do not want to be on the side of the scoffer when the Lord reveals Himself to all mankind.  When every knee will bow and tongue confesses that Jesus Christ is Lord, it won’t be my first time.  I will praise Him on a daily basis for all the great things He has done.  I want my trust and hope to be in Him so I do not have to fear.  Yes, the end will come, fire will destroy, but those who know the Lord will stand forever. 

Seek Him, Know Him, Bow Down and Worship Him, the ONE TRUE GOD.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

Run Don't Walk

2 Peter 2:14-22English Standard Version (ESV)

14 They have eyes full of adultery, insatiable for sin. They entice unsteady souls. They have hearts trained in greed. Accursed children! 15 Forsaking the right way, they have gone astray. They have followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved gain from wrongdoing, 16 but was rebuked for his own transgression; a speechless donkey spoke with human voice and restrained the prophet's madness.

17 These are waterless springs and mists driven by a storm. For them the gloom of utter darkness has been reserved. 18 For, speaking loud boasts of folly, they entice by sensual passions of the flesh those who are barely escaping from those who live in error. 19 They promise them freedom, but they themselves are slaves[a] of corruption. For whatever overcomes a person, to that he is enslaved. 20 For if, after they have escaped the defilements of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, they are again entangled in them and overcome, the last state has become worse for them than the first. 21 For it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them. 22 What the true proverb says has happened to them: “The dog returns to its own vomit, and the sow, after washing herself, returns to wallow in the mire.”

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II+Peter+2%3A+14+-+22&version=ESV)

As we continue in our picture of those who are fallen, let’s look at some of the descriptors of them.  They are adulterous as they no longer have a one and only love for the One True God.  They love money, fame, attention on themselves more than they love the God who saves.  Have you even known or do you know someone like this?  If so, be aware of the destruction that they can bring.  I once knew someone once who fits this description.  This person even deceived me for a time but I was so thankful that the Father opened my eyes and I did not become enslaved to this person and their way of thinking. 

As Christians we need to be on the look out while not being judgmental.  Not everyone who seeks fame and fortune are necessarily evil. It is a very tough call and is difficult to know when to turn and run and when to witness.  As I read these scriptures today, I underlined some key points to be on the lookout for.  Here is a list:

            -unsteady souls – you can see this in the way they talk and act, always searching             but never finding satisfaction in anything they do; 

            -greedy – always a need for more and will destroy anyone that come within their path;

            -freewill- they forsake what is right for their own pleasures;

            -follow false prophets/religions –such as religions that do not put Christ first and          recognize Him as the Beloved Son of God and a part of the trinity.

            -promise much and deliver nothing- they always have a plan and nothing ever   comes to being in the way that they promise, they draw you in to try to destroy.

I am sure that many of us have found ourselves at one time or another in one of these states of mind.  Take for example, “unsteady souls,” there are times that I feel that way but the difference is in how we respond.  When I feel defeated, dissatisfied, and discouraged I focus on the One and Only One that can satisfy me.  I begin to delve deeper into the Word, pray harder, and seek His face.  My situation may be unsteady but my soul is devoted to Him.  Whereas a false prophet/teacher, after knowing the ways of the Lord, refuse to accept them and choose rather to go against them.  They will search but will not find.

I trust that those reading this blog, seek to honor Him.  I trust that you do not want to find yourself on the other side of the battle.  The only way to ensure this is to continually seek Him with all your heart and know that His way is the only way to the day of glorious reunion and celebration with Him.  Run, don’t walk, from those who try to deceive.  Run, into the arms of Jesus.  Don’t find yourself on the other side where only doom and gloom will be your end.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

How Do I Pray Lord?

2 Peter 2:1-13English Standard Version (ESV)

2 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell[a] and committed them to chains[b] of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment; 5 if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly; 6 if by turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes he condemned them to extinction, making them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;[c] 7 and if he rescued righteous Lot, greatly distressed by the sensual conduct of the wicked 8 (for as that righteous man lived among them day after day, he was tormenting his righteous soul over their lawless deeds that he saw and heard); 9 then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials,[d] and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who indulge[e] in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority.

Bold and willful, they do not tremble as they blaspheme the glorious ones, 11 whereas angels, though greater in might and power, do not pronounce a blasphemous judgment against them before the Lord. 12 But these, like irrational animals, creatures of instinct, born to be caught and destroyed, blaspheming about matters of which they are ignorant, will also be destroyed in their destruction, 13 suffering wrong as the wage for their wrongdoing. They count it pleasure to revel in the daytime. They are blots and blemishes, reveling in their deceptions,[f] while they feast with you.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=II+Peter+2%3A+1+-+13&version=ESV)

Have you ever met a false prophet or teacher?  I have not only met one but have had close contact with one.  Someone who claimed to have been baptized as a believer in Christ but totally turned from the teachings of Christ.  I never thought it was possible but it is.  The scripture tells us, right here, that it is possible.  I don’t know if this person ever truly made a commitment of faith or was just doing what everyone else was doing but at any point the person turned totally away from the ways of Christ and into a religion that is contradictory to Christ.

The person ate a my table, laughed with me and shared with me just as the scripture says.  Then, this person turned on me, talked about me, and tried to destroy me with strong words, as the scripture predicts.  The scripture says we need to be cautious, we need to watch out for the deceiver and this is so true.  I once thought there was hope for this person to come back to the faith found only in Christ and had prayed for that.  Even this morning I was asking God, before I even got out of bed, how to pray for this person.  When I began doing my blog, He answered!!!!!!

So, how do we pray for this person?  Do we pray for destruction or that the person will come to the Lord?  I believe the scripture in this case in pretty clear as to their end.  It is not up to me for I am not the judge but it is up to the Father in Heaven.  What is up to me is that I do not find myself becoming a part of their deception. I do not have to engage in their games, I do not have to bow to their desires.  I must be true to the One who is my Lord and Savior.  I have to give to Him my all.  I must thank Him for His protection, for His righteousness, for His grace to me.  I must remember that He is the perfect judge who knows all the truth and all the deception.  I must trust that He is in control.  I must pray for those around this person that they too will not fall into the arms of the deceiver but they will be true to the One True God.  I praise Him for answering my prayers through the Holy Scriptures!  That is what happens when we seek Him with all our heart!  Go forth and serve the One True God with gladness and joy!!!!

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila