from 2 Peter chapter 3 verses 1 to 14. I don't have a page number from the church Bible.
Was it? 1, 2, 2, 3. Thank you. So 2 Peter chapter 3 verses 1 to 14.
Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to
stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy
prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles. First of 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 fathers 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 existed 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 ungodly men. 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. 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 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 is 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, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you
are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with him.
Thank you.
Good afternoon, everybody.
God's word and promises, particularly Jesus' promised return. But in direct contrast,
the believer must remember and hold fast to these promises, spending every day looking forward to
and getting ready for Jesus' return. So in the churches in Asia Minor, which is modern-day
western Turkey, these scoffers had been denying Jesus' return as a load of hype.
Peter firstly describes their thinking, secondly, their motivation, and thirdly, why they are so badly mistaken,
showing the basis for believing Jesus will return as he has promised.
Then, finally, he talks about what's going to happen on the day that Jesus returns.
And he instructs the believers as to how this day makes a difference every day of their lives.
So that's where God's word is taking us today.
And before we begin, let's just take a moment to pray.
We need God's help as we go forward.
Father God, we can't go any further without your help.
We need your spirit here to be speaking into our hearts through your word.
And Lord, we realize that we're in a battle today.
Your enemy, the devil, he does not like what's going on here.
He does not want your word to be planted deep in our hearts.
But, Jesus, we thank you that you're stronger.
We pray that by your spirit, through your word today, you would correct us, you'd rebuke us, instruct us,
and that we would not leave this service today without being changed.
Lord, be with us by your spirit and in your power today.
And make us open to you.
Amen.
So, RTE, that's the Irish National Broadcaster, has a YouTube channel
on which they post up the best and most popular moments of Irish television.
If I asked you what has been their most popular YouTube video over the last two years,
I wonder what you'd get.
Maybe Ireland being the All Blacks.
Maybe it would be Theresa Manion, Don't Make Unnecessary Journeys.
Would it be the Late Late Toy Show?
Well, this might surprise you.
But coming in at over 7 million views,
a two-minute snippet of an interview with Stephen Fry
from February 2015 is the most popular.
And maybe this rings a bell for some of you guys.
In this interview,
Gay Byrne asked the actor and comedian
about his beliefs in God,
to which he began to label God
as being utterly evil,
capricious,
selfish,
and monstrous,
if he even were to exist,
among many other things.
Now, I personally don't love
and serve
the God that he was talking about
in that interview,
and the God that
we know from the Bible.
However,
the video went viral,
and people from all over Ireland
were captivated
and intrigued
by this man's
tarad
on live television.
Now,
while we find
such comments
upsetting,
perhaps we shouldn't be surprised
that this video
was so popular.
When we think about
how many people
around us in Ireland today
actually think
the exact same.
maybe Stephen Fry
was just being a little bit
more bold and outward about it.
I mean,
and what do we do
with such comments?
Well,
we find the answer
in today's passage.
These comments
are perhaps
a more outward
and bold example
of what the Bible
calls scoffing.
So,
scoffers
mock,
ridicule,
and jeer
at the beliefs of another.
And Peter,
in our passage today,
tells us that they will jeer
at Christ's second coming
and they will deliberately
overlook
God's role
in creating the world.
They do this
in order to justify
their own sinful behavior.
So,
after spending
much of his letter
reminding the believers
of the reliability
of the gospel
and warning them
of false teachers,
Peter now turns
to warn God's elective scoffers
and the danger
of joining them
in their thinking.
So,
he exhorts them
always to remember
and live in the light
of God's commands
and coming judgment.
Today,
we're going to see
these two things
contrasted in our text
all the way through.
The choice of each person
to either deliberately
forget God's word
or deliberately remember
and live in the light
of it.
And it starts
in verse 1 and 2.
Have a look.
And I read from,
I read it now.
This is now
the second letter
that I am writing
to you, beloved.
In both of them,
I am stirring up
your sincere mind
by way of reminder
that you should remember
the predictions
of the holy prophets
and the commandment
of the Lord and Savior
through your apostles.
Okay,
so,
here we go.
Straight away,
Peter is trying to stir up
the believer's memory
of the prophecies
and commands
in God's word.
He does this
because the scoffers
in the community
are in many ways
doing the opposite.
They're questioning
what is being prophesied.
So these two verses,
they set up
the rest of the following section
in which Peter begins
to deal with scoffers
and,
number one,
their thinking.
Two,
their motivation
for thinking that way.
And then,
thirdly,
Peter's response
to their thinking.
So firstly,
Peter begins to show us
how scoffers think.
So let's pay attention here
so that we know
how to recognize it.
Looking at verse 3 and 4.
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 always has
since the beginning
of creation.
Now,
I don't know about you,
but I find this
really interesting.
The rationale is,
well,
this world
has just
kept going on
as it always has.
No sign of stopping.
No reason to believe
it will stop.
You know,
I read this,
sorry,
I read this
and think
not much has changed
in the way
the people think
over 2,000 years.
This is common perception
in Ireland 2017,
is it not?
The majority of people
you know will say,
yeah,
I believe God exists.
But if you asked him,
do you believe
God
when he says
he's coming back
in judgment
on this world
and your life,
well,
they'll probably start
to get a little bit
uneasy at that stage
and say something
along these lines?
Well,
it doesn't really
look like he's coming,
does it?
I mean,
he said that,
what,
2,000 years ago
and it still
hasn't happened.
I mean,
it's taking forever.
So,
clearly he isn't coming
and I'm just
going to live my life
in the way
that I truly
think is best.
what's the key part
in that thought process?
It's taking forever,
so obviously
he's not coming.
Like two friends
who are standing
at the bus stop
down in Fountainstown
and after half an hour
of standing around,
one of them cries out
in desperation,
it's taking forever,
forget the bus,
it's not coming,
come on,
let's find another way
back to Kerrigaline.
You know,
that's exactly
what's going on here
with these scoffers.
Well,
Peter's response
to this kind of thinking
is swift
and he has a list
of reasons
as to why
that's no justification
whatsoever
for believing
he will not return.
Number one,
this is Peter's
number one response,
he says,
if God made the world,
then he's surely
able to end it.
And we find this
in verse five,
have a look.
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.
These scoffers,
they deliberately
overlook
or forget the fact
that the world
is made by God.
They don't want
to acknowledge
that it had
a start point
because if God
started this earth,
then he's well able
to end it.
And this is
Peter's point
in the next two verses
of Luke 6 and 7.
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.
So Peter's saying,
look,
if God can make
the world,
and more than that,
if God can partially
destroy the world
by means of a flood,
then he can absolutely
fully destroy the world
when he calls
an end to it.
So scoffers
don't want to think
about how God made it.
They would rather
conveniently push
that out of their
day-to-day memory.
And in verse 3,
we find out
why
they want to push
that out of their memory.
Look at verse 3.
It says,
In the last days,
scoffers will come
scoffing and
following
their own evil desires.
The reason why
they're denying God
will come back
and judge this world
and their lives
as this.
They want to follow
their own evil desires.
Let me put it
another way.
They want to live
the way that's best
in their own eyes
and not God's.
And believing
that there's no judgment
allows them to do that.
Now,
can we just pause here
a second?
We can begin to say,
Oh,
those old scoffers
at it again.
Why can't they all
just be as good
and obedient
to God's word
as I am?
You know what?
Before you or I
begin to think that way,
think about this.
How many times
do we
even as self-professed
followers of Jesus
get up to the very
same thing?
We push the truths
of God conveniently
out of our minds
so that we can
continue to justify
different things
that we want to do.
Like that particular
hateful attitude
towards our work colleague.
Or that habit
of watching pornography.
Or those indulgent
shopping trips
that we know
we don't really need.
Scoffers
deliberately forget
God's word
and his promises.
And Peter says
in verse 1
and verse 2
believers must
deliberately remember them.
Let's not join
scoffers
in their
deliberate
forgetfulness.
Let us instead
hold fast
to God's word.
And here comes
the question.
Are you in it
every day?
How are you
getting God's word
into your life
every day?
You're responsible
for this.
As am I.
Not my parents.
Not my spouse.
It's me
that has to make sure
that I'm getting
God's word
into my life
every single day.
It's the same
for you.
And if you're not
getting God's word
you're going to
start living
like these scoffers
in a way that's
right in your own eyes
but not God's.
These days
we have multiple
means of feeding
ourselves regularly
with God's word.
We have Bible apps
audio Bibles
such an array
of translations.
Look
you and I
don't have any
excuse.
Especially when we
consider that in
many other countries
of this world
it's illegal
to even own a Bible.
You know
God blessed
Elena and I
with both the time
and the money
to carry Bibles
into Laos
and Vietnam
a couple of weeks ago.
Some of you guys
were following along
the emails.
Well back in February
when we made
the big decision
to buy those flights
and it was a good
bit of money
I can tell you.
When we committed
to it
it began to hit
home
but if we're
willing to pay
all this money
to travel
halfway across
the world
to transport
Bibles across
communist borders
then how do we
even value
the word of God
in our own lives
at home?
Well that was
a challenge.
You know
we have over
ten Bibles at home.
I actually went
around on Tuesday
counting them
and walked
around my house.
Honestly
we actually need
to offload a few
if anyone is interested.
We've got small ones
big ones
study ones
even a flowery
ones
not in content
in appearance.
We have it so easy
you and I.
We can definitely
take it for granted.
But it's God's word.
It's a fountain
of life.
It's a feast
of everything
that's good
and instructive
in our lives.
It's our guidebook
on how to live
God's perfect way
he intended for humanity.
Now how can we
miss out on such
an incredible gift
that's in our own
language?
So you need to
figure out
and I need to
figure out
what's the best
way for us
to feast on
God's word
each day
and have your fill.
Now I know
someone
who gets up
early
gets in their car
and drives
to work
extra early
in order to
beat the cork
traffic
and they sit
in their car
in the car park
and they've
half an hour
there
to read God's
word and spend
time with him.
That works
for them.
I actually have
another friend
who's a teacher
and he meets
the Lord
for a short
time in the
morning
but then
once school
is over
right
listen to this
he locks
himself
in the storeroom
of his
classroom
for ten minutes
straight after
school
and he has
another time
to just get
God's word
into his life.
He's being
strategic about
it and you
know what
we also need
to be strategic
about it.
What's the
best part
of our day
that we can
give to God
where we're
most alert
and we're
most able
to take in
his word?
Maybe
coming away
from today
you need to
think up a new
strategy in terms
of that.
It's vital.
So far
we've established
that scoffers
question Jesus
coming
and deliberately
forget God's
word in order
to justify
their own
lifestyle.
So after
Peter has
addressed their
theories by
saying well
if God can
make the
world he
can also
end it
he then
moves on
to confront
their theory
of it's
taking forever
so obviously
it's not
happening.
So let's
look at
verse 8
and 9
and see
Peter's
response to
this.
Verse 8
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.
Now here
we get an
incredible
glimpse into
the grandeur
and majesty
of God.
Think about
it.
What is
two thousand
years to
God?
A snap
of the
fingers.
God is
not limited
within the
constraints of
time.
He's the
maker of
time.
He's beyond
it.
Peter
continues
in verse
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.
So
why is
it taking
forever
in our
minds for
Jesus to
return?
Well
here's the
reason.
the love
patience
kindness
and mercy
of God.
You know
how ironic
that those
who scoff
at God's
so-called
delay in
fulfilling
his promise
are actually
scoffing
at God's
gracious
act of
mercy
towards them
and giving
them time
to repent.
But what
does this
verse mean
for those
who have
already come
to repentance?
And this
hit me hard
during the
week.
And this
is how I
was working
it out
in my
head.
If Jesus
comes later
today after
the fellowship
lunch to
take me
home, so
be it.
I will be
with him in
glory.
If he
doesn't come
today, then
that's one
more day I
get to
share his
saving gospel
with those
who haven't
yet believed
and stand
condemned
before a
holy God.
See, now we
see why Jesus
hasn't returned
yet.
There are
so many
more precious
souls he's
waiting for
to run
into his
forgiveness and
eternal life
before it's
too late and
they spend
eternity without
him in
hell.
So, now
that Peter
has shown up
the scoffer's
way of thinking
and motivation,
he now turns
his attention
to the day
of Jesus'
return, which
he calls the
day of the
Lord.
And he
gives us
some very
important
insights into
what is
going to
happen on
that day.
So, let's
pay big
attention here.
It's in
verse 10
we're going
to read
for now.
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.
So, firstly,
it's going
to be as
predictable as
a robber
coming to
steal from
your house.
Now, that
caught me by
surprise when
I was 10
years old.
Arriving back
to my house
with my
family on
St. Stephen's
Day.
Why is our
house so
cold?
Mum, why
is the
kitchen window
jarred open?
Dad, why
is my money
box empty in
my room?
That thief
took us
purely by
surprise on
that night.
Likewise,
no one will
see it coming
when Jesus
returns to
this earth.
And what
else do we
learn here?
Everything
will be
destroyed.
Not by
water this
time, by
fire.
The stars
and planets
will also be
no more.
But, you
know, that's
not where the
story ends.
Peter says
in verse
13,
but in
keeping with
this promise,
we are looking
forward to a
new heaven
and a new
earth where
righteousness
dwells.
Now, this is a
huge comfort
for us.
God doesn't
stop at
destroying the
world.
He promises a
new heaven and a
new earth, but
the last three
words here are the
most important.
world.
It says,
where righteousness
dwells.
All hurting,
pain, evil, and
sin will be no
more.
There is a hope
for a new
heaven and a
new earth without
the taint of
sin.
And what an
incredible reality
it is for us
to look forward
to.
So now we
come to the
last part of
this passage in
our message
today, in
which Peter
asks the
million dollar
question for
those of us
who claim to
be followers of
Jesus.
Look at it in
verse 11.
since everything
will be destroyed
in this way,
what kind of
people are you
to be?
There is the
question.
I think Peter
asks this question
right after verse
10 for a
purpose.
He just told
them, the
believers, that
everything in
this world is
going to burn,
literally.
It's like
this.
Think of that
house of yours
that you may
have been
working 30
years to pay
off.
If Jesus
returns tomorrow,
you'll be
standing before
your maker
and your
house will be
gone.
It's the same
with your car.
There's no
highway to
heaven.
There's not
even a highway
to hell.
You can't
bring it with
you.
You know,
coming back
from visiting
Asia, God
has challenged
me that I
need to watch
the importance
that I place
and things
that I
own.
As if they
are what
gives me
satisfaction
and life.
No.
God's word
tells us here
they don't
matter for
eternity.
Nothing here
is eternal
apart from
your soul
and the
soul of
every person
you see
around you.
And that's
why Jesus
says in
Matthew
chapter 6
verse 19,
you needn't
turn there,
I'll read
it for you.
Do not
store up
for yourselves
treasure
in earth
where moth
and rust
destroy
and where
thieves
break in
and steal.
But store
up for
yourselves
treasure in
heaven
where moth
and rust
do not
destroy
and where
thieves
do not
break in
and steal.
For where
your treasure
is,
they your
heart will
be also.
So what
treasure are
you and I
building up
in heaven?
The world
doesn't think
that it's
treasure.
Caring for
an older
relative who
may never
say thank
you.
Showing
patience to
a boss
who definitely
doesn't deserve
it.
Quietly
slipping your
brother in
need a
check when
you know
you could
have used
that money
for your
own
pleasure.
Laying
down your
life for
your spouse
and your
kids even
when you
think
no one's
looking.
But someone
is the
only person
that matters
your father
in heaven.
Brothers and
sisters,
keep building
up treasure
up there,
not here,
because
everything that
you see down
here,
it's all
going to be
burning if
Jesus returns
tomorrow and
you can't
take it with
you.
So let's
go back to
Peter's
answer to
his own
question.
In
verse 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 as
you look
forward to
the day
of God
and speed
its coming.
So,
there are
two consequences
of Jesus'
return for
the life of
believer here.
Number one,
verse 12,
we need to
look forward
to Jesus'
return.
And number
two,
verse 11,
we need to
live holy
and godly
lives in
preparation for
his return.
Now,
to illustrate
these two
things more
clearly,
I'd like to
share with
you an
experience
from my
own life.
So,
my wife
went away
for a few
days this
week.
She went
with her
mom and
sister.
It has
kind of
become an
annual
tradition,
and as
long as
it doesn't
get too
wild,
I'm happy
for it to
continue.
So,
there I was,
I guess.
I was there
on my own for
three days
at home.
I was
preparing this
sermon,
doing some
jobs,
getting awfully
distracted.
I was eating
some quality
takeaways with
Rob and
the boys.
But,
Elena is a
wonderful wife,
and as you can
probably imagine,
as the days
went on,
I really began
to miss my
best friend.
I began to
look forward
to her
return.
Now,
men in the
room who
are married,
and even
children in
the room who
have mothers,
I have a
question for
you.
Your wife or
your mom is
away for a
few days.
What's the
number one
thing that
you have got
to do before
they come back
to the house?
You don't have
to be a genius
to figure this
one out.
You clean
it, of
course.
Even the
dogs in the
street know
that.
You have
to get
your house
ready for
her by the
time she
comes back,
or it
will mean
her distinct
disappointment
when she
arrives home
to three
days worth
of dishes
piled up
and socked
all over
the floor.
It just
makes sense.
Clean the
house.
So there's
two things
I did this
week.
Number one,
I was looking
forward to my
wife's return,
and number
two, I was
getting ready
for my
wife's return.
You know,
isn't that
kind of
the same
with Jesus
followers and
his return,
as we see
in this
passage?
Instead of
a wife or
a mother
returning,
it's our
Savior, our
King, Jesus
Christ.
He's the
one who's
ransomed us
and taken
the blame
for our
rebellion on
the cross.
He's our
closest friend,
and he
promises us,
I am
coming back.
Now,
what's your
attitude towards
your Savior's
return?
Scoppers will
bend over
backwards to
deny it.
A lot of
Christians,
including Sam
Ross, forget
about it, and
they don't think
of it from one
day to the
next.
Now, Peter
implores us to
remember that we
will stand before
Christ when he
returns.
In fact, three
times in three
verses, he tells
us to look
forward to it.
Verses 12, 13,
and 14.
So it has to
be important to
be said three
times, right?
Let's listen
up here.
But some
will ask,
some people in
this world will
ask, you know,
what difference
does it make in
the grand scheme
of things if
I'm not looking
forward to my
Savior coming
back?
What difference
does it even
make?
Let's go back
to that
illustration.
My heart of
longing and
anticipation for
my wife's
return demonstrates
my love for
her, right?
And so also, if
there's a desire
for Christ in
our lives, we
should be longing
for his return,
for him to put
right everything
that is wrong.
But even more
than that, just
have him, to be
with him physically
in all his glory
forever.
And this is why
Paul says in
Philippians chapter
1, verses 23
to 24, I am
torn between the
two.
I desire to be
with Christ, which
is far better
indeed, but it
is more necessary
for you that I
remain in the
body.
Did you hear
that there?
Paul just
wanted Christ.
For him, Christ
was the reward
of Christianity.
Now, is that
good enough for you
and for me?
Is it good
enough for us
to get Christ
on the last
day and for
eternity?
If not, then I
don't think we
understand what a
treasure God is.
If not, we
don't understand
that we are made
to love him and
enjoy him forever
and that nothing
could ever satisfy
us like he can
for eternity.
You know, there
are three words
in verse 12
that could easily
slip by without
notice.
I don't know if
you noticed them.
They can be a
little bit puzzling
to some people.
And we need to
just address them.
Have a look.
It says, you
ought to live
holy and godly
lives, verse 12,
as you look
forward to the
day of God
and speed its
coming.
Now, you might
be asking, how
could we possibly
speed Jesus
coming?
Here's my very
brief take on it.
God's heart is
that every nation
under the earth
will hear that
Jesus died to
make them right
with God.
Now, Jesus
said that himself
in Matthew 24,
verse 14.
And I could.
The gospel of the
kingdom will be
preached in the
whole world as a
testimony to all
nations and then
the end will come.
Okay?
So, Jesus
won't return.
He said this.
He won't return
until every people
group in the
world has a
witness for the
gospel speaking
and living among
them.
So, by fulfilling
Jesus' commission
to go into all
the world and
make disciples of
all nations,
you know what?
We are, in
effect, speeding
his coming.
So, we need to
really consider how
we each individually
and how our
church is fulfilling
our God-given
mission to bring
his gospel to
every people
group, both in
Ireland and
abroad.
So, Peter's
first instruction
was to look
forward to
Christ's return.
And secondly,
and this is my
last point, we
need to be ready
for him.
We need to get
ready for him.
And it's not
a house that we're
getting ready here,
guys.
It's our lives.
So, let's look at
Peter's instructions
as to how we can
get ourselves ready
for Christ's
return.
They're in
verses 11, 12,
and 14.
You ought to
live holy and
godly lives as
you look forward
to the day of
God and speed
its coming.
And then it's
14.
It says,
So then, dear
friends, since
you are looking
forward to this,
make every effort
to be found
spotless,
blameless,
and at peace
with him.
So, the
essence of both
these verses,
I think,
is this.
make every effort
to become more
like Christ.
He's the one
who lived the
perfect example
of a holy and
godly life,
as it speaks
about in this
verse.
He lived a
spotless,
blameless life
at peace with
God.
So, we also
need to remember
we can't,
and we won't
ever imitate him
perfectly this
side of heaven,
because our
sinful nature
still gets in
the way of
that.
But, we are
to still make
every effort.
We are to
still strive to
be like him,
Peter says.
And the only
way to become
more like Jesus
is to spend
time with him,
is to walk
in his spirit,
is to marvel
at him as
revealed in his
word and to
follow his
commands.
But you know
what, there's
just one caution
here.
We're not
striving,
to earn our
salvation.
We're not
obeying God
to make God
love us any
more than he
already does.
We have to be
careful here.
We're obeying
him because we
love him.
And because we
want to make him
proud when he
returns.
And we find
the basis for
this in Jesus'
parable of the
talents, which
you can find
later on in
Matthew 25.
But briefly,
it says,
the brief
gist of it
was that to
each servant,
the master
gave differing
amounts of
money before
leaving on a
journey.
And on his
return, he
found two
servants had
worked hard
and used the
money he gave
them wisely.
To those
servants he
said, well
done, good
and faithful
servants.
But to the
last servant,
who had
buried his
money, and
he had made
no effort to
use it for
good, the
master gave
him a
severe
rebuke.
You know
what, in
the same
way, Christ
has saved
me and
given me
everything that
I have in
this life.
He's blessed
me with my
freedom, my
family, my
money, etc.
But he's
also commanded
me to use
these things
for his
glory, to
follow him
and become
more like
him.
Now I
want my
life to be
ready for
Christ, my
master, when
he returns.
Every day we
need to bow
the knee to
our king, to
obey him, and
submit to his
loving rule over
our lives.
And yes, we
should want to
make our
master proud on
the day that he
meets us.
I pray that
all of us
here will be
able to hear
him say on
that last day,
well done,
good and
faithful servant.
To finish,
where does
this leave us
today?
Firstly, we
heard Peter's
call to
remember God's
words and
promises, not
conveniently forget
them like the
scoffers.
So are we
feasting at
God's word
every day?
Secondly, we
need to remember
the fate of
this world and
everything in
it.
We learn from
God's word that
it's all going to
burn on the
last day.
So, we
need to invest
our lives in
the things that
last for
eternity.
Loving God
and loving
others.
And lastly,
we need to
look forward to
and get ready
for Christ's
return.
Because he
has saved us
and now he
has commanded
us to live
holy and
godly lives.
And we
don't want to
be ashamed
on that day
when we
meet him
by the way
we have used
the lives
that he's
given us.
Let's commit
all this to
God in
prayer.
Jesus, we
thank you that
you're coming
again.
Thank you for
all the songs
we've sung today
which have
reminded us
of this.
You're coming
to put us
right everything
that's gone
wrong.
And Lord
Jesus, you
call us
to look
forward to
your return
and not
only that
but to be
ready for
your return.
And I
pray for
myself and
for each
person here
that we
would take
heed of
your word
and this
week that
we would
make steps
to look
forward to
and to
be ready
for you
on your
return.
We ask
your help
in this.
We need
your help.
In Jesus'
name.
Amen.
So just
bringing all
of this to
our minds,
I would
like us
to start
with this.
Let's
start with this.
Let's
start with this.