JOHN SHIRK – Second Peter 3, verses 10 through 12.

“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 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.”

God has told us ahead of time what will happen.  Someday, desolations will come to the earth. Why would God want us to know this?  He wants us to purify our faith, so that we serve the Lord with undivided loyalty.  He wants us to have an eternal perspective. By remembering the promise of Jesus to return, and the separation that will occur between believers and unbelievers, we will have incentive to be ready for that day.  We will be on guard to protect our hearts from the world’s corrupt influence. We will be encouraged of His promise to bring us into a brighter day when He creates a new heaven and earth, built on righteousness, justice, and abundant blessing. We will live with hope.  And we will live with purpose to persuade others to be reconciled to God today. First John 2:28 says, “Continue in him, so that when he appears, we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.”

Holiness and godliness are vital signs of a changed life in the Year of Transformation.

John Shirk

john@wjtl.com