Hope for this World?

Introduction

Many people, understandably are concerned for this world. It is a real mixture. On the one hand, we see the heights of nobility, goodness and love, but on the other, we see the depths of depravity, evil and unthinkable wickedness. Political movements want to save the world, save various species etc. There are ideologies that look forward to a utopia - a world that mankind achieves that is without suffering etc. Many people give their lives to this cause. What do the scriptures tell us?

Understanding 2 Peter 3:3-15. 

God's word could not be clearer. There is no hope of saving our world - God has already spoken. But that does not mean His people do not have a hope or purpose and mission - we do - the Apostle Peter spells it all out. 

God's Promise

Basically, thousands of years ago, God judged this world by sending a devastating flood, saving His own people through Noah. He promised Noah and all subsequent mankind back then, never again will He destroy the earth with a flood and made the rainbow a reminder of that unbreakable promise. 

Genesis 9

11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”

12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: 13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.

God's Judgment

But He has also made it clear - He will judge the earth again - this time, not by water (As he has promised) - but by fire. 

2 Peter 3:10

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare."  

There is no man, no people, no army, no force or power, no movement of people - nothing that can save the world from this coming judgment of fire that will, once for all cleanse the earth of all wickedness, evil, sin, and rebellion against God.

God's Patience Mercy

The only reason He has not already judged the earth by fire, is because of His kind patience and love, to quote 2 Peter 3:9  

2 Peter 3:9

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

The Lord wants the maximum number of people to repent, turning to Jesus as King to be part of His new kingdom which He is establishing right now. 

God's Purpose for us now

But what then is our purpose and mission in life? Peter tells us in the next verse ... 

2 Peter 3:11-13

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. 

This tells us how we should live now, we should live godly lives. Jesus is our supreme example of a godly life, and He showed us that a Godly life is to live out the will of God in our lives and live to please God. Jesus said ... 

John 4:34

34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.

John 6

38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.

John 8

29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him.”

A New Earth

But also - surprisingly - it tells us that we should actually “look forward” (2 Peter 3: 2) to this judgment! Why? Because it is only God's judgment that will bring an end to the misery, pain, suffering, destruction and abuse in this world that we long to see ended - and only then will the new heavens and new earth be established, where righteousness dwells (Verse 13).

I love the picture of the new heavens and new earth given in Revelation 21

21 Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

But back to 2 Peter 3 - he goes on to tell us … 

Peace with God

2 Peter 3

14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 

This tells us a number of key things we should now be concentrating on … 

1) We should first be looking forward to this 'new heavens and new earth'. Our eye is not on this world - as long as this world endures, pain and misery, wickedness and evil will continue. But a better world is coming.  And I want to be in that world to come forever. And I want my children and family there with me. By God’s grace I will be - I hope you will be too. 

2) We must “make every effort” to be found “spotless, blameless and at peace with Him”. Two important points from this are (a) it requires every effort. This means work, energy, time. “Every effort” is demanding.  In other words, we should be devoted to this. Devoted to what exactly? (b) Being found spotless and blameless and at Peace with Him. This means, we are not trying to be righteous in our own eyes, that is, self-righteous, nor in the eyes of other people - that will make us people-pleasers. But we are to make every effort to be found spotless and blameless in God’s eyes. 

Ultimately, He is going to judge us all. His piercing eye sees everything that is hidden, even in the crevices of our imaginations - nothing at all is hidden from Him - and on the day of judgment, it is what He thinks of us that matters. 

 What good is it to say on the day of judgment, “Well, although I am spending eternity in hell, at least I thought I was ok, and so did other people”. What we think of ourselves and what other people think of us will not matter at all on that day - all that will matter is what God thinks - how He judges us. And now is the time to make every effort to be found at “peace” with God. 

The word Peace here does not merely mean an inner feeling of peace, it is far more important than that. It is ‘peace’ as in ‘peace and war’. Basically - people are in rebellion against God - at war with Him - like two nations at war with each other. But the sides are not equal - at any moment, God could smite all His enemies. 

God's Patience revisited

2 Peter 3

15 Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.

A  lot of people say, "but why doesn't God destroy all evil now?" This is a good question - but the answer cautions us. 

Whatever we think of ourselves and one another, Romans 3:10-18 reveals God's damning judgment on all mankind

10 As it is written:

“There is no one righteous, not even one;

11 there is no one who understands;

    there is no one who seeks God.

12 All have turned away,

    they have together become worthless;

there is no one who does good,

    not even one.”

13 “Their throats are open graves;

    their tongues practice deceit.”

“The poison of vipers is on their lips.”

14  “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”

15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood;

16  ruin and misery mark their ways,

17 and the way of peace they do not know.”

18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

The ultimate evil is not child abuse, murder, rape, war etc - the ultimate evil is the ultimate crime against God Himself, that is the rejection of God as God of our lives - and by our actions, we have all committed this ultimate crime against God, countless times in countless ways. We say, "nobody is perfect' which is true - but it is just the same as saying "All are sinners". 

Why is it the ultimate crime so bad? It is because it is the crime of rejecting God that has opened the gate to all sin, misery, wickedness and evil in the world. Had we not committed that one crime - there would be no suffering, pain, misery, wickedness and evil. But we have all - to a man committed this crime - we are all guilty before God.

All that is to say - if God destroys all evil now - He would have to destroy us all.

But Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation; He is patient - not wanting any to perish (2 Peter 3:9). When He judges, He effectively ends His patience and wars against His enemies. Now is the time for us to make peace with Him, that is, find the salvation God wants for us all. But we must make every effort to make peace with God before the judgment comes. That is what these verses are telling us.

Conclusion

So God is being patient right now - not judging us right now - so that we might be saved. In other words, this world cannot be saved - but we can. This world will be destroyed and a new earth will be established - but only those who are saved will live forever on it. The reason you live and have not been destroyed already is because God wants you to make your peace with Him and be saved. He wants this more than you can know - that is why He sent Jesus into the world.

John 3:16-18

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 

Want to know more, message or phone me - I’d love to share and help you understand the good news of the gospel.