The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you,[a] not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 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 Pet 3:9, 10)
Verse 9 is a popular verse because it talks about God’s patience toward us. But often the next one is ignored which talks about God’s judgment.
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God’s holiness and purity will consume everything that’s marred with sin including the heavens and the earth. It’s in the light of that that we should view God’s patience.
In the midst of judgment, God displays immense patience while dealing with us “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance”. As believers, these attributes should fill us with reverential fear and gratitude!
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So how are we to respond to this truth? (v11-13)
Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
Lives of holiness and godliness, eagerly waiting for the coming of the day of the God is the response! And we all share a marvelous hope of new heavens and a new earth which won’t be corrupted by sin and unrighteousness.
A few application questions could be:
- What does holiness and godliness mean for each of us today?
- In which areas of our lives is God’s patience intending to lead us to repentance?
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