Looking Forward

2 Pet 3:14 "Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;"

Therefore. What is it there for? Peter just got done describing the day of the Lord. A day that will bring the destruction of the earth and heavens by fire. Peter is pretty graphic in his description about what is going to happen. He outlines that there will be scoffers…doubters…those who say: "Where is the promise of His coming?" Then it will happen. Just like a thief in the night. "The heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up." (v10) All the stuff that we have built. All of the things that we have worked so hard to get…gone. Then what? Judgment. Then what? New heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells. (v13) Yet God waits. God is patient. He is holding off to see more people brought into the kingdom.

Anyway, therefore. Because of all of this how should we live? Looking forward. Looking for it. Living expectantly. Diligently. In peace and harmony without spot, clean, unsullied and blameless so that no one can accuse us of any wrong.

I think the early church probably live more expectantly than we do in the American church. I say that because these people had a hope that went beyond what they possessed. They proved this by enduring persecution and having to be driven from their homes. They were scattered and they took it in stride because they were living for something that went beyond the here and now. I also know that there are those who are living this way now, who are enduring unbelievable persecution, driven from their homes, thrown in jail, given life sentences, even sentenced to death because of their faith. And how do they endure it? (I just read about persecution in Pakistan…unreal.) They are looking forward. Their eyes are on something more than this eventual burned up world can give. And even though they are going through unbelievably tough times, they still live in peace and no one can accuse them of any real wrong.

Unfortunately, we don't hear a lot about looking forward. We don't focus on what is to come. As a result we can get pretty self absorbed. That is not the way it should be. I know that I need to think more about not the immediate future, but the future future. I need to live in the light of eternity. I need to look forward. When we do this, all of the petty stuff will disappear. All of the junk that we strive for will not be so important. What will be important is how we live…in peace and blameless. Our character really reflects our ultimate hope…it shows whether we are looking forward.