Last 5 Days
Be Prepared, and Lead a Holy Life
8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 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.
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.
Peter in his second letter called his readers to be living out their faith as God’s children as it is their divine nature to do so as well. They are given His divine power through the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1). And not let the false prophets and teachers mislead them into living unholy lives (2 Peter 2). In chapter 3, he reminded them of the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandments of the Lord Jesus Himself regarding the day of the Lord.
In verses 8-13, he addressed the “slowness” of the promise of the day of the Lord in being fulfilled. This passage reflects what Jesus taught in Mark 13 about His Second Coming. However, Peter was apologetic about the time even though Jesus said that no one knows when it will happen except for His Father. He used a puzzling statement, “That with the Lord one day is a thousand years and a thousand years as one day.” Logically, it does not make sense as Jesus simply said no one knows the time even Him, only God the Father knows.
The phrase is basically saying that it will come suddenly since in eternity time does not exist. Thus, it is not because He is slow to keep His promise, but he said that rather God is being patient with us. He is giving us a chance to repent and receive His saving grace as He does not want anyone to perish.
He said that, “The day of the Lord will come like a thief” but when it comes, “the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved.” In other words, there is judgment. “The earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” In view of this judgment, Peter then asked them what kind of people they should be and what kind of lives they ought to be living while waiting for the day of the Lord to come. For according to the Lord’s promise, the old heavens and old earth will be destroyed, and they will be replaced by the new heavens and a new earth where righteousness will dwell.
The implication for us is to live holy and godly lives while waiting for the day of the Lord to come. We must be ready so as not to be caught unprepared or unaware when the day of the Lord comes. Therefore, no one can say that we still have time since a thousand years can be as one day to the Lord. We must be prepared and be on guard every moment of the day!
Prayer: Lord O God, please help me to be prepared and be on guard by living a holy and godly life all the time. As nothing will ever go wrong when I am constantly and continually living a life that is pleasing to Him.
