He Holds Our Future

Read II Peter 3:1-11

He holds our Future. I’ve read and re-read this chapter many times this week, and each time I discovered something rich and wonderful. But for today, let’s focus on these verses:

Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following with their own lust, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? Forever, since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”
II Peter 3:3-4

But the present heavens and earth by His word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
II Peter 3:7

But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish, but for all to come to repentance. I
I Peter 3:8-9

Scoffers Among Us

Some willing ignore and doubt the truth that Jesus is coming back. God’s Word is sound, solid, and true. If He says, “I’m coming soon” then you can trust it, the dependability of His Word is good — it’s the same Word that created the heavens and the earth from the beginning of time.

His delay is on purpose: allowing more people to repent. The Lord is not slow but patient.

The Way of Christians — the Way of Scoffers

We are God’s people. He has not forgotten us nor forsaken His promise to return. Meanwhile, His ways are perfect, and our ways are not. We need not neglect the faith remaining ever so faithfull and sincere. We, true Christians Disciples, understand what our future holds and,more importantly, Who holds our future.

As you daily fellowship with the Father, allow the Word to awaken your spirit, open your soul to grasp the truth. Many have and will continue to be impatient with Him. They’ve turned their faith into a mocking cry against His patience.

If only they knew why.

Sadly, they see the end times more as an escape than in entering His rest. Deliberately, they trust themselves and not the Word. They live in a state of denial and scoff at those who are still watching and waiting for His return. They feel superior, and yet, they are nothing but fools.

God is in Control

As they scoffed at Noah, who preached repentance and built the ark, they mock what is God is doing today. In some ways, the Gospel is our ark, saving us from destruction and death. God, by His Word, changed the trajectory of everything in an world wide flood. The scoffers forget that not everything was as it was in the beginning. It’s true that He was sorry He had made humankind and grieved. The flood was in response to making all things new again. Noah and his family were the only ones who were saved.

I wonder, does God’s heart hurt today as sin piles up like so much dung? Think about it, even as such stench rises up to Him, He holds back! God stays the execution – the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. He does this because of His patience, His great love, and, yes, His amazing grace. God Himself is waiting patiently to come to repentance.

Patient is the Lord who knows one day as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.

Future of the Present Heavens and Earth

No matter how much we try to preserve the earth and complain about global warming, God is in control. In many ways, the earth is marked for destruction and is slowly being destroyed by our selfishness. Glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, rain forests are dying, and the smoke from wildfires stretch across the nation. It is true, that we have caused this by the way we live: greenhouse gas and so much more.

Global warming and climate change go hand-in-hand. No matter how we change the law of gases released in the air or clean up our carbon footprints, we are not able to prevent the destruction of the world today, which is marked for the day of judgment and fire in the future.

Only God’s Word keeps this destruction at bay.

The “Happy Ever-after” Place

We will all ascend into the place the Lord has prepared for us – whether will live or die. The place prepared for us is the place of “happy ever-after”. The heavens and earth, then as we know it, are dissolved by fire. There will be an end to the present state of things: the place of our habitation will be no more. Famous nations, large cities, businesses all gone. The heaven: stars, universe and galaxies will be gone. All shall are destroyed and Satan defeated.

Is everything lost, and is this the end of it? No! The Lord doesn’t work that way.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the Holy City, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, He will dwell with them, and they will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes and death will be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, no pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Rev 21:1-4

While you may mourn for a moment for what was in the past, what joy you will discover belonging to Christ for eternity. You will live with Him forever in the Holy City — the new heaven and the new earth.

Listen to the Truth

Refuse to give ear to the protests, the scoffers, and those who want to contaminate the truth. We are not dying out, as some suppose, but safely speeding toward a more glorious life.

Despite the opposition, God is on the move. Our Lord Jesus is accomplishing His purpose. He is making us and soon will make all things new. He has given us the beauty of a tender relationship with Him here and now. In the new earth, our precious relationship with will become new and, if possible, even more intimate. It will like as unto Adam and Eve’s relationship of fellowshiping in the cool of the day. All is not lost, as we suppose, but the intamacy lost in the great fall has been brought out and secured in so great a salvation!

Our Garden of Eden, on this new earth, God reigns supreme forever and ever and ever! God with us — Immanuel!

Imagine this, that everything in this new heaven and earth magnifies the Lord and shows the beauty of His faithfulness and the glory of His presence-the sweetness of an unbroken love. We have entered our eternal peace and rest. God who patiently waited for us can now reap the reward of faithfulness. We are His and He is our God. Praise God!

Our Future is Secure

I write these words with tears of gratefulness and a heart of gladness. Our future is secure.

He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with us all.
Rev 22:20-21

Praise God for His patience!

When we human beings know something will happen today, we have high expectations, and it appears near to us. However, when we know it may occur way in the future (a thousand years perhaps), we think nothing of it. We feel that only the grave awaits.

Not with God!

All things are equally near and present in the view of things. The distance between today and tomorrow (1,000 years) is no more than a day (maybe a breath). For God, there is neither past, present, nor future. The Creator of time is not subject to time, but the other way around.

The truth: all is done according to the breath of His Word.

Get Ready!

God’s heart is still full of lovingkindness, His patience is pure. No matter how much I desire, the new heaven and earth is waiting to come and everything is kept “on hold” for the day of judgment.

God is faithful. He is not moving at my whim or wishes. His will will be done. Time is subject to Him, and He has all the time in the world and the new world as well. His patience gives us more and more opportunities to see more and more people come to repentance — a saving knowledge of God.

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 will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done in it will be exposed.
II Peter 3:10

Maranatha!

Maranatha is an Aramaic term or phase appearing in 1 Corinthians 16:22. Technically, it’s a combination of two words, “marana — tha” which literally means “the Lord comes” or “Come, Lord!” .

I am a product of the Jesus Movement. When we entered the church, greeted one other on the street, or out and about, we welcomed each other with a warm and hearty “Maranatha” (like Jewish people use the word, “Shalom”). It was a pleasant reminder of our secure future in Him and in His return.

I wish more of us would do the same again. As for me, I’m going to do it. Maybe, just maybe, it will be the flame that fans the fire.

I understand that at times we may be seized with impatience wishing for His hasty returen, and this is normal. However, can you whisper “manatha” on our breath and spread the good news: Jesus is coming back!