The Perspective of the Judgment

2 Peter 3:1-14

Introduction

When the Hubble telescope took flight with its powerful lens, we were able to look into places we had never seen before. Scientists discovered a staggering number of other galaxies beyond our own. Our Milky Way galaxy is merely a tiny spiral when compared to the expanse of everything God created. The Hubble telescope revealed to us a different perspective of the entire universe. As Christians, we are to live in light of eternity. We should view our earthly life through the lens of our eternal life. This perspective focuses our minds and hearts on God’s promises, which we find in His Word. God’s Word has power, the power that can bring forth judgment. Therefore, Christians must take God’s Word seriously.

Armed with this eternal perspective, we are instructed to wait for God’s program. God will execute His program on a different timetable than the one we expect. With God, one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day (2 Peter 3:8). While we are waiting for God to execute His program, we are supposed to be working for Him and witnessing to others. There is great urgency to this mission because God wants no one to perish and for all people to come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Since we do not know when Christ will return, we should be waiting expectantly, working tirelessly, and witnessing passionately until He comes back or we go to be with Him.

Living in light of eternity also requires us to have different priorities. We must prioritize the eternal over the temporal, the spiritual over the physical, and the sacred over the secular. In our minds, eternity should have a greater focus than our time on earth. Our physical needs should be secondary to our spiritual needs. This does not mean we neglect our physical needs, but our perspective must change so that we value the spiritual reality above the physical reality. In our lives, the secular should be subject to the sacred and be informed by the sacred. If we live under the guidance of this perspective more and more, then our priorities will shift into alignment with God’s priorities.

Getting Started

1. A telescope gives us a different perspective of the sky. What things look different in your life depending on your perspective
2. How do people often feel about waiting? What does waiting (expectantly) look like?

Let’s Get Personal

1. Think about the times you have and haven’t taken God’s word seriously. What was the effect?
2. What makes it difficult to trust God’s timing? How can you trust God in light of this message?
3. How have you prioritized the temporal, physical, and secular over the eternal, spiritual, and sacred?

Take the Next Step

1. In what ways do your priorities and perspective need to change so you live in light of eternity?
2. God’s program involves His children witnessing to others about the good news of Jesus Christ. What do you need to do to begin to witness passionately to others about the good news of salvation?
3. Want to go deeper? Take time to look at the following passages: Ecclesiastes 12:13-14; Isaiah 30:15; Matthew 3:2, 8; Matthew 6:19-24; Matthew 8:12; Matthew 10:42; Matthew 12:36-37, 41; Matthew 13:38; Matthew 16:27; Matthew 19:29; Matthew 22:1-14; Matthew 25:14-30; Mark 10:28-31; Luke 19:17; John 1:8; John 12:26; Acts 3:19; Romans 2:12; Romans 8:17; Romans 14:10-12; 1 Corinthians 3:10-15; 1 Corinthians 4:2; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; 1 Corinthians 10:31; 1 Corinthians 15:58; 2 Corinthians 4:18; 2 Corinthians 5:1-11; 2 Corinthians 7:10-11; Galatians 5:19-21; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 5:5; Ephesians 6:8; Colossians 3:1-11, 23-24; 2 Timothy 2:12; 2 Timothy 4:8; Hebrews 1:14; Hebrews 9:15; Hebrews 10:29-31, 35-36; James 4:1-10; 1 Peter 1:17; 2 Peter 3:1-14; 1 John 2:28; Revelation 21:4; Revelation 22:16

Renew Your Mind

“But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”

2 Peter 3:13