Living for the Day of the Lord

I think a lot of times we live day by day, taking things as they come. But if this is how we live, will we ever be thinking about the day when Jesus returns?

The passage that I was studying this morning is from Peter's second letter and it is written as a reminder to us of what the holy prophets spoke of and what Jesus commands us-that the day of the Lord is coming and that we need to be ready.

Peter says that there are people in this world who mock the return of Jesus. Their justification is that we have not seen any indication of Jesus's return or any change in this world since the beginning of creation. However, Peter challenges this thought by reminding us that change occurred long ago by God's word. The heavens came into existence and the earth was formed out of water and by water. This same water also aided in another change, the great flood which destroyed the world. Peter tells us that the next change we will see is on the day of judgment when ungodly men, the heavens, and the earth will be destroyed by fire. Just like creation and the flood, we have NO idea when this change will occur: " ³⁶"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. ³⁷As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. ³⁸For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; ³⁹and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man" (Matthew 24: 36-39). Therefore, we ALWAYS need to be ready. We need to ALWAYS be living for Christ. We need to ALWAYS be living for His return.

As an anxious human being, I love seeing results. At the end of a semester, I can't wait to get my grades. When I write an article, I can't wait to see the resulting commentary. When I watch a baseball game, I can't wait to see the final score. Just the same, as a Christian, I can't wait to see Christ's return. Therefore, it can seem like Christ will return in 1,000 years. But what we cannot forget is that God is above time: "With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day" (2 Peter 3:8). A lot of times I just don't understand why the Lord is waiting. Why doesn't He just have Christ come for His Church now? But Peter explains to us that "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness" (2 Peter 3:9). I love this next part: "He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). The Lord is waiting for a time when a great many have repented and now live for Christ. He is doing this for OUR benefit. And I am so thankful for that. In light of the new year, let us be sooo thankful for God's timing with Christ's return. Would you have been ready if Jesus came for His Church in 2009? I know I wouldn't have. So let us live this year, and all the rest, focused on Christ, living for Him.

Only the Lord knows the day and hour that the Son of Man will return. And we need to be ready for this because "The day of the Lord will come like a thief" (2 Peter 3:10). We have no idea when a thief will come and break into our cars or homes. If we did, we would make sure we were prepared for that specific moment. Therefore, we safeguard our cars and homes by installing alarms and taking precautions. We need to do the same for Christ's return. We need to take precautions by being ready for Him because He will come when we are not expecting. And when He comes "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" (2 Peter 3:10). This physical change needs to be preceded by our own heart change-a change to live only for Christ, a change to always be ready for His return.