2That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: 3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: 6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 7But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. 8But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3: 2-9).
The apostle Peter in his second epistle draws our attention to the history of the world and to the history of creation. The purpose of drawing our attention to history is to provide background for future events. Peter is reminding us that there is nothing that is new since the very beginning of creation and that many people are willingly ignorant of both the promises and judgments of the Creator. The term willingly ignorant is an interesting one. It is really a denial of the known truth. We are also warned that in the last days there will be scoffers, those that mock the truth of God. So truth is both denied and mocked. Unfortunately, the truth of God seems to be denied and mocked with increasing frequency in our world.
The truth is that God has promised that He will one day return to restore His creation. Additionally, God will bring final judgment to the world as well. God’s delay in returning is actually for our corporate benefit. We should do all in our power to help reach those who are apart from Christ while there is still time. God in His infinite mercy and longsuffering is allowing time for all who will come to him to do so. The Creator is longsuffering.
The apostle Peter in his second epistle draws our attention to the history of the world and to the history of creation. The purpose of drawing our attention to history is to provide background for future events. Peter is reminding us that there is nothing that is new since the very beginning of creation and that many people are willingly ignorant of both the promises and judgments of the Creator. The term willingly ignorant is an interesting one. It is really a denial of the known truth. We are also warned that in the last days there will be scoffers, those that mock the truth of God. So truth is both denied and mocked. Unfortunately, the truth of God seems to be denied and mocked with increasing frequency in our world.
The truth is that God has promised that He will one day return to restore His creation. Additionally, God will bring final judgment to the world as well. God’s delay in returning is actually for our corporate benefit. We should do all in our power to help reach those who are apart from Christ while there is still time. God in His infinite mercy and longsuffering is allowing time for all who will come to him to do so. The Creator is longsuffering.
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