3 December 2023 PM – Text: 2 Peter 3:10-14 – Topic: Future
Introduction: What is God like? He is not a big, cuddly teddy bear. Nor is He an angry tyrant. He is not a soft pushover. Nor is He a vengeful bully. God is love, but He is also holy. He is totally pure and absolutely just. God has taken note of every sinful act and harsh word you have ever said. He knows your thoughts, your plans, your motives, and your secrets. God knows whether you have truly trusted Christ for cleansing and forgiveness. He sees every unconfessed sin in every Christian’s heart. The Psalmist said of God, (Psalms 147:4-5) “He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names. Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.” Paul wrote in Hebrews 10:31, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Of believers, Paul wrote, (2 Corinthians 5:10) “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” Of unbelievers, he wrote in 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9, “In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;“
Years ago, I met a man who claimed to be a Christian who admitted that he was living with his girlfriend. I asked him what God thought of his relationship. He said, “I know the Bible says it is wrong, but God understands my situation.” That man did not know the God described in the Bible.
We are living in the last days. Christ could come at any moment. Our text this evening urges us to prepare to meet God.
Transition: This evening, I want to point out three reminders that Peter gives us in 2 Peter 3:10-14 to help us prepare to meet God.
1. Understand the Terror
a. Terror is near.
1) The Day of the Lord is likely very near.
2) The Day of the Lord comprises the Tribulation, Millennium, and final Judgment. It will be preceded by the Rapture, and it will conclude with the events Peter just described. This is no small matter!
b. To meet God as an unbeliever will be terrifying.
1) God is loving and very long suffering (Read v.9).
2) He has no desire to send anyone to torments. However, His holiness demands that He send unbelievers to hell fire. They turned down His offer of salvation through faith in Christ. We just read this in 2Th 1:8-9.
c. What about Christians at the Judgment Seat?
1) Genuine believers will not be sent to hell for unconfessed sin. However, God will hold them accountable.
2) We read in 2Co 5:10 that the things every believer does or says in this body will be evaluated, whether it is good or bad. God will address every secret sin. The offender will be rebuked by God himself and he will lose reward.
3) The fire of God’s consuming eyes will burn up all that some believers have done, and they will be saved, yet so as by fire (1Co 3:15). Saved, by the skin of their teeth.
2. Underscore the Timing
a. Judgment day will come.
1) Note the words “will” and “shall” in 2Pe 3:10.
2) You may not be able to trust tomorrow’s weather forecast, but God’s future forecast is 100% trustworthy. The Day of the Lord – Judgment Day – will come, just as God has promised.
3) Scoffers will mock God’s promise of coming judgment. Read 2Pe 3:3-4. Their scoffing will not change the fact and reality.
b. These things will all come to pass.
1) Peter in verse 11, when Peter states, “all these things shall be dissolved”, the word “dissolved” literally means let loose. God is going to let loose all his righteous judgment on the rebels of this world.
2) The day is nearing when God will let loose all the fearful and terrifying judgments that He has predicted in the Bible.
3) The time to buy a plane ticket is not while you drive to the airport. You must prepare early. Likewise, now is the time to get prepared to meet God and stay prepared.
3. Undertake the Task
a. Peter outlines tasks for believers.
1) God expects his children to prepare by keeping sin from their lives – what manner of persons we ought to be. The word “ought” speaks of a necessity. This is not an option. It is a duty (v.11).
a) We are to have a holy conversation or a holy conduct. Our conduct is to be set apart from the unbelievers around us. We are to be consecrated to God and saintly in our actions.
b) Look back over your conduct this past week or past month. Would God call it holy? Have you conducted yourself like a saint? Have your words been such that honour the Lord Jesus, who died for you?
c) We have a duty to be godly. This word speaks of piety toward God. It is showing reverence and respect for the holy things of God.
d) Since God knows the thoughts and intents of your heart, does he consider your thoughts and plans to be godly and reverent?
2) God also expects us to be anticipating His coming (v.12).
a) We are to be looking for his return. That is, expecting it at any moment. I have used the illustration before, but it is so vivid to me that I must repeat it. When I had been bad, my mum would say, “When dad gets home from work, you have an appointment with him.” I knew that would not be a happy time. I looked for his coming, not with excitement but with dread. On the other hand, looking forward to an exciting outing, we counted the days, hours, and minutes as we anticipated the fun.
b) God wants us to be anxiously expecting Christ’s return with excitement, but that will only happen if our hearts are clean and right with God.
c) Peter places a second emphasis on this anticipation. We are to be hastening unto Christ’s coming. This speaks of earnest desire. We ought to truly long for His return from the depths of our heart.
b. Peter reemphasises this vital point in verse 14.
1) We are to be diligent or eager to have Christ find us in peace with Him.
2) For us to be in peace with Christ, we must keep our selves clean.
a) He wants us to be without spot or blemish.
b) He also wants us to be blameless.
3) How can we attain to such a high standard?
a) We are to walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16) “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Yielding to His conviction rather than to the devil’s lures.
b) We are to flee youthful lust. (2 Timothy 2:22) “Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.“
c) We must always take the exit when tempted to sin. (1 Corinthians 10:13) “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.“
d) If we fail, immediately, we are to confess our sin and seek God’s cleansing (1Jn 1:9).
Conclusion: The Lord is soon to return. The day of the Lord will soon begin. We will give account to our Creator and holy God. God wants you and me to be prepared. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God. If your conduct has not been holy and godly, and you have not been looking for and earnestly desiring the Lord’s return because of guilt, and God cannot say that you are without spot and blameless, right now is the time to get right with God. Swallow your pride and prepare to meet your God.
If you have not yet trusted Christ to save your soul, you will face the terrifying future of eternal life in the Lake of Fire. “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2Co 6:2).
The signs of Christ’s return are all around. Be prepared!
