Day 306: Jude; 2 Peter

Do you ever think about the Lord's return to earth? I mean, really consider it. What will it be like? Is it for real? Do I truly expect an amazing supernatural event like this to take place? Do I plan for it? I joke sometimes about hoping the Lord returns soon so I don't have to do some unpleasant task that's looming before me. Is that really funny? Why?

It's been a long time. If it's really going to happen, what's God waiting for?

Whenever I hear of some crazy preacher predicting a specific day that we expect Jesus to return I immediately discount it. Why is that? Is it because he truly is looney and has some crazy, and completely flawed way of interpreting scripture? Or, is it because the Lord's return is something that I sort of keep in a place of my mind reserved for those mythical, fantastic things that deep down inside I never truly expect to happen in a real time and place?

Peter writes a beautiful and powerful passage about the Lord's return that I need to etch into my heart.

     Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
     But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 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.
     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.
     Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 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. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells. (2 Peter 3:3-13)

He's waiting because He loves us.

He's waited a long time so far.

He won't wait forever.

I'm looking forward to that "new heaven and earth, where righteousness dwells."

It is real.