The 2nd Coming Should Shape Today!

Fire and Explosion by Evans888 at free images.com

Fire and Explosion by Evans888 at free images.com

Steven Covey in his classic book 7 Habits of Highly Effective People lists Habit #2 as “Begin with the end in mind.”  The Apostle Peter had long ago applied this principle to the Christian life.  In 2 Peter 3 he is discussing the end of time.  He is talking about the promise of Jesus’ coming.  He describes this great event:

“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 on it will be exposed.”  (2 Peter 3:10 ESV)

Typically upon reading this passage we get preoccupied in discussing the events of the second coming.  We are humbled, frightened, and even a bit confused with some of the descriptions.  People like to debate these various “end of time” scenarios and events.  People treat Revelation the same way, getting focused on conjecture and even making predictions.

But as I was studying Peter’s words again, it occurred to me that maybe we miss the point when we do such.  The point is much more similar to Covey’s Habit #2 of allowing the end to shape the present. 

[important]You see Peter says these things about the end to make the point:  “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness” (2 Pet. 3:11).[/important]

As he continues the thought about looking forward to the “new heavens and the new earth in which righteousness dwells” he adds,  “therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace” (2 Pet. 3:14).

Peter is saying, knowledge about the end should provoke a present holiness and godliness in our lives.  Let’s not focus on what we do not know about the end, but remember what we do know is enough to inspire present holiness and godliness.    

Let’s be holy today, because the Lord is coming back!

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