Funerals and memorial services can be very difficult for all the reasons you might expect. But they can also be really helpful. They do for us what nothing else in our life really does – clarifying that there is only one hope that holds even in the face of death: Jesus’ promise that He will come back.
If you’re honest, you might find this promise difficult to live in light of. It can seem irrelevant to our everyday lives, and so we put our hope in different things. This was the case for the people that Peter was writing to in 2 Peter 3:1-7.
Scoffers Will Say “He’s Not Coming”
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 … knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come … They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”
– vv. 1-4
These people were like kids in class when the teacher steps out and says, “I’ll be right back.” But the longer it takes for the teacher to get back, the more some of the kids think, “He won’t be back for a while – we can do whatever we want.”
For those people and for us, the reminder is the same. Even though it’s been a long time, Jesus is coming back. And the next thing Peter points out is why we should believe Jesus is returning.
How We Know Jesus is Coming
For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.
– vv. 5-6
What in the world is Peter getting at? Well, it seems the point he’s making is: “God made everything, and He has intervened in creation in comprehensive ways before – it stands to reason that He’ll do it again.” Peter goes on:
But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
– v. 7
This is a very disquieting verse that we’ll look at a little later, but for now just notice what God is doing. He’s active, and “upholds the universe by the word of his power” (Hebrews 1:3). Of course things are continuing the way they always have – God is making sure of it. It’s not evidence of His absence, it’s evidence that He’s still involved.
Jesus is Waiting for a Reason
In verse eight, Peter continues, “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.”
To a kid, 10 minutes feels like a long time, but to an adult, 10 minutes is nothing. Why is this? Because our perception of time is relative. Now, if there’s this much of a difference between kids and adults, how much more so between humans and an eternal God? God is able to wait, and He’s “not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient” (v. 9).
There’s a reason for Jesus not returning yet – God is patient. Jesus is coming back for His people, but He’s also coming back for the “judgment and destruction of the ungodly” mentioned in verse seven.
Who Are the Ungodly?
This is when we need to stop and really think. Who are these ungodly that will be destroyed? A lot of their characteristics are described in chapter two, and some of the things they do are
- “follow their sensuality” (v. 2)
- “exploit” people (v. 3)
- do “lawless deeds” (v. 8)
- “do not tremble” at the things of God (v. 10)
- “have hearts trained in greed” (v. 14)
- forsake “the right way” (v. 15)
As you read this list, you might think, “Those people are terrible! I’m glad I’m nothing like that.” But if you think more about it you might wonder, “How ungodly does someone need to be before they’re judged and destroyed?”
The ungodly “follow their sensuality” – you might not think about it in those terms, but sometimes you do whatever feels good rather than what is good. You may not be a professional at exploiting people, but you may have used people for your benefit instead of serving them. As far as doing “lawless deeds,” at some point you’ve failed to obey the Lord’s commands to love God and love people properly. The ungodly don’t tremble at the things of God – when was the last time you trembled at the glory and awesomeness of God?
There is Good News
If we’re honest with ourselves, we’re all ungodly. But this is the good news of Jesus Christ and Christianity: “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. … For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life” (Romans 5:6-10).
The good news of Christianity is that Christ died for us, the ungodly, to pay for our sins so we can be fully forgiven and reconciled to God. Take hold of this grace! Recognize that you need salvation and embrace the forgiveness God offers through Jesus Christ.
Discussion Starters
- Why is it difficult to live in light of Jesus’ promise that He will return?
- What do verses 5-6 mean?
- How can a thousand years be like one day for God? Why should it matter to us?
- Who are those who will be destroyed when Jesus returns? What is the good news for these people?
This sermon was preached during our Memorial Service.
