HOW TO WAIT ON THE ETERNAL KINGDOM

2 Pet 3:11-15

Morning Meditation 12/22/14

Verses 11-15 say, “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless. And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;”

The word “dissolved” (luo) means “to loose any person (or thing) tied or fastened, to do away with.” It is a present passive participle. The passive voice means that God will do this. They will not just dissolve on their own. The present tense looks at it as if it were already in the process. It is translated as a future tense but it is actually a present tense. What Peter is saying is that this present world order will not continue. God has something incomparably better planned for us as His children. How should we live out our lives in the light of this ? The words “ought ye to be” (huparcho) mean “to begin below, to make a beginning.” It is a present active infinitive. Peter is saying that the coming kingdom is one of righteousness. Our lives ought to take on this way of life right now. The words “holy” (hagios) and “conversation” (anastrophe) means “holy or a saintly manner of life or conduct.” Our future hope should influence our present walk. The word “godliness” (eusebeia) means “reverence or piety toward God.” Do we believe this present world is going to be dissolved? Do we believe that God is going to establish a world in which righteousness reigns? A lot of people look at salvation by grace like a ticket to a super bowl. You don’t use it until the game time arrives. It is not so with salvation. Our belief in God’s promises for the future are to affect our present walk. In the process of setting up a new world order, God will dissolve this present one (Rev 20:11). God is not pleased with this present world order and He will do away with it with the Word of His power. Peter says we need to reflect on this awesome power and God’s displeasure with sin and change our lives (by His power) to demonstrate righteousness.

In verse twelve Peter gives a glimpse of how this will take place. Fire is used in the Bible as a symbol of judgment. He says “the elements will melt with fervent heat.” The word “elements” (stoicheion) means “any first thing, from which the others belonging to some series or composite whole take their rise, an element, first principal.” God’s judgment is not just going to affect the part of His creation that we see but He will judge with fire the very elements out of which He made them. How is this to affect our present attitude? The words “Looking for” (prosdokao) mean “to expect (whether in thought, in hope, or in fear)..” The word “hastening” (speudo) means “to desire earnestly.” When God saves us He puts a longing in our hearts for a future world that will be righteous. There will be no violence, no politicians telling lies or making promises they cannot keep. Jesus will be the Ruler and Provider of all that is necessary for this to take place. We are to wait for that kingdom with earnest desire and anxious expectancy. Do you notice Peter is not telling us to change our present world order? He is saying it is doomed. But he does teach us as believers to begin to live in this present world according to the principles that will be the order of the future kingdom.

Verse thirteen says, “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” Peter is giving the reason for our present expectancy.

Verse fourteen says, “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” The result of our anxious anticipation of these things is expressed in the words “be diligent” (spoudazo) and means “to exert one's self, endeavour, give diligence.” It is an aorist active imperative verb. The aorist tense suggests a once for all choice. The imperative mood is a command and suggests urgency. God uses us in the present tense to demonstrate the principles of the future kingdom. There are all kinds of cults out there that withdraw and do all kinds of strange things as they claim to wait for His coming. This is not God’s way to wait for the future kingdom. We are in the world but not of the world. God puts His children in the school systems, every profession you can name, and in every walk of life. His people are to live a life of holiness and righteousness right alongside those who do not. We are to live with expectance of a future kingdom. Our job is not to chance this present world order. Our task is to let the future world order change us in the present system as a demonstration of things to come.

There are three things that God wants to characterize our lives right now. The first word is “peace.” But first it says, “that ye may be found of him.” This is important. We are not living differently to please ourselves or do it for the world’s sake. We are to live with the realization that there is a spiritual kingdom going on right now and the King is observing. We are presently living under His rule. The word “peace” (eirene) when used of Christianity, refers to the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ. It also means, “to fear nothing from God and be content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is.” (Strong). This is the kind of peace Jesus wants to see in us right now. Do you realize how different this will make you from those around you? The world hungers for this. But it is not to be found by them. Isaiah 48:22 says “There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked.” The second thing that Jesus wants to find in us is stated in the words “without spot” (aspilos) and means “free from censure, free from vice.” If Mr. Clinton were a saved Baptist living according to this rule, they could get any number of independent counsels working on his past and they would find nothing! I do not mean this as a criticism but simply an illustration. We must pray for our President whether we agree with him or not. The next word is “blameless” (amometos) and means “cannot be censured.” It means nothing can be found in a person for which he can be criticized. You may say, “that is impossible.” You’ll have to admit it is a good goal. That is what the Lord wants His children to be like. He gives the rules to go by, The Holy Spirit to dwell within to empower us and the promises of a future kingdom to motivate us.

Then in verse fifteen He explains the seeming delay. Peter says “The longsuffering of our Lord is salvation.” Others must be brought in. There are others to be saved. God is on schedule. Let us not complain about hard times. It is only a little while. It is so near Peter uses mostly present tense verbs and verb forms to explain it. That had to give the translators a fit!

May God bless these words to our hearts.

In Christ

Earl White