Trust in the Midst of the End
Wednesday, August 14, 2024
Reading
2 Peter 3:1-15a (NLT)
“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”
Psalm 11:4–7 (ESV) 4 The Lord is in his holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; his eyes see, his eyelids test the children of man. 5 The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. 6 Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. 7 For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face.
The Lord is present, reigning, and active. The Lord is the ultimate Judge, and will hold everyone accountable, but those who embody His righteous character shall see Him.
The big idea of Psalm 11 is that when the righteous are presented with the powerless situation, the psalm does not try to argue that there are steps the righteous can take to change the situation, or earthly options available to confront evildoers. What can the righteous do in the face of evil? The righteous confess trust in God’s righteousness and embrace the hope that the righteous will see God’s face.
The Fire of the Lord
There is a connection between beliefs and behaviors. You can say that you believe whatever you want; those are “espoused beliefs.” Though those are important in shaping how you think, what you actually believe, your “integrated beliefs” are the ones that shape your behaviors. How you behave in everyday life, and especially in tense situations, tells you what you actually believe. If you want to know what you actually believe, carefully observe your behaviors.
“Espoused beliefs” are what you say you believe. “Integrated beliefs” shape your behaviors.
So what do you believe about God’s presence in the midst of threat and chaos? What do you believe about God’s character when times are confusing and chaotic? What do you believe about the Word of God when feelings and circumstances run counter to it? What do you believe about the end, whether it’s “your” end or “the” end?
2 Peter 3:9–10 (ESV) 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 10 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.
1 Corinthians 3:10–15 (NLT) 10 Because of God’s grace to me, I have laid the foundation like an expert builder. Now others are building on it. But whoever is building on this foundation must be very careful. 11 For no one can lay any foundation other than the one we already have—Jesus Christ. 12 Anyone who builds on that foundation may use a variety of materials—gold, silver, jewels, wood, hay, or straw. 13 But on the judgment day, fire will reveal what kind of work each builder has done. The fire will show if a person’s work has any value. 14 If the work survives, that builder will receive a reward. 15 But if the work is burned up, the builder will suffer great loss. The builder will be saved, but like someone barely escaping through a wall of flames.
Hebrews 12:29 (NLT) For our God is a devouring fire.
God’s loving presence is a fire that destroys what it cannot purify, but purifies what it cannot destroy.
1 Peter 1:3–7 (NLT) 3 All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is by his great mercy that we have been born again, because God raised Jesus Christ from the dead. Now we live with great expectation, 4 and we have a priceless inheritance—an inheritance that is kept in heaven for you, pure and undefiled, beyond the reach of change and decay. 5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see. 6 So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. 7 These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.
God’s loving presence is a fire that destroys what it cannot purify, but purifies what it cannot destroy.
1 Peter 4:17 (NLT) For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News?
Conclusion: Coming to the Table of the Lord
2 Peter 3:11–13 (ESV) 11 Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, 12 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! 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.