Introduction: Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from 2 Peter 3. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- Most of us do not like things to change. Perhaps it is a matter that so many of the changes we experience are not necessarily for the better. And even when things do definitely change for the better, there is still a period of adjustment that we have to go through, getting used to the “new normal.”
- Obviously “things changed” at the original creation. Suddenly a beautiful environment was created on earth, replete with all kinds of plants and animals, everything mankind needed for a splendid life and existence.
- Things changed much more dramatically when Adam and Eve fell into temptation and sin. And although the curse upon the earth and mankind was implemented somewhat slowly, we could look upon this as the “low point” in human existence. It was so bad that God ultimately “started over” with a flood that wiped out virtually all of humanity.
- Still, some things were changing – for the better. God gave Adam and Eve a promise of a “seed of the woman,” of a Savior Who would crush evil. The changes in the world were slow and progressive. Eventually a whole people would bear the Name of God, would be His people.
- Still, evil was quite influential and predominant – but time was moving toward the fulfillment of God’s promise to Adam and Eve, and the birth of a Savior, Christ the Lord. Things got exponentially better with His coming – even though the great good was produced through His suffering and death. But He rose again, and His church was reborn, given even greater and more wondrous gifts – Baptism, and His Supper.
- Always, God has instructed His people that things are changing. As far as sin and rebellion against God is concerned, Scripture teaches us that things will be getting worse and worse as history moves toward the Last Day. For God’s people, however, the changes are always for the better. Included in these changes is the promise of “new heavens, and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
- So, are things getting better or getting worse? Both; better for the church, worse for the unbelieving world. But as we experience the changes, having to adapt may still present many challenges to us.
- So it is important to remember that:
I. When God Acts It Always Brings Great Blessings To Us, His Children
A. His Action In The Coming Of Jesus Has Provided Us With Forgiveness, Eternal Life, And Salvation
Luke 2:29-32 “Simeon took the baby Jesus up in his arms and blessed God and said, ‘Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation that You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.’”
2 Cor. 5:17-19,21 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. For our sake He made Him to be sin Who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”
B. So Also It Is Certain That The Day Of The Lord Will Bring Great Blessings To Us
Text: “But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
Statement: There are numerous passages in Scripture which describes the blessings coming to God’s people on the Last Day. “We will be like Jesus, for we will see Him as He is.” “He will wipe away all tears from our eyes; there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.” Obviously the Last Day will bring about many changes – all for the better for God’s people of faith!
Application: But obviously the changes will take some getting used to – but I suspect that we will acclimate fairly quickly, by the grace of God! Hopefully, none of us are so dedicated to the things of this present world that we are reluctant and discouraged about the coming of the Last Day, the Day of God! And that is part of our faith and life as Christians – the greater blessings to come in the New Age, in Paradise! For:
II. Our Hope As Christians Is Not For This Age Or This World
A. The Present Earth And Heavens Are Going To Be Destroyed
Text: “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. . . . The heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will me
B. New Heavens And A New Earth Are Coming, The Home Of Righteousness
Text: “But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.”
Statement: This is the answer God gives to His people in regard to their complaints about the evil that they must endure in this life, in this world. It will come to an end – and all will be well for us! Jesus promises, “I go to prepare a place for you . . . and I will come again to receive you unto Myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.”
Application: So as long as we are not overly beholden to this present world, or overly infatuated with it and entangled with its cares, the news in regard to the future changes is 100% good and blessed! Yes, it will be change – but things are going to get much better for us, we who are children of God, believers in Jesus!
Transition: This is not to say that anticipating such changes has no consequences for or effects on our life here and now. Rather, knowing these things changes our perspective, our hopes and ambitions for the future, and consequently what we invest ourselves in during this life, for:
III. Expectation Of The Blessings To Come Gives Us Hope And Direction In This Life
A. We Seek To Live Lives Of Holiness And Godliness
Text: “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness! . . . Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by Him without spot or blemish, and at peace.”
B. In Addition, We Correctly And Properly Understand God’s Delay In Culminating The Present Age
Text: “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.”
C. So We Wait Patiently, And Also Hasten The Coming Day Of The Lord
Text: “waiting for and hastening the coming of the Day of God.”
Statement: One of the changes we struggle with as Christians, is the shift away from looking at life and thinking like the unbelieving and uninformed people of this world. It is hard to break out of the sinful and near-sighted ways of thinking that come so naturally to us, and to begin looking at ourselves and our lives from the perspective of eternity in God’s kingdom. All too often we want more time, more opportunity to gain and enjoy the things of this world, and to live longer in it.
Application: If this is the case, then we remain unaware that the only reason the end has not come yet is God’s will to bring all to repentance. And if this is the case, we are not among those “hastening” Christ’s return in glory. But as we invest ourselves – our time, energy, and money – into the ministry of calling people to repentance, and to know Jesus our Savior, we are “hastening” the return of Jesus! This our calling, and the best thing that we can do for others, and also for ourselves!
Conclusion: We need to take care to discern and delineate! Things are only getting worse for sin, evil, and the unbelieving – and this present world. Things are changing for the better for children of God! We should look at the passing of our time this way – optimistically, in view of God’s promises, and eager for the changes that are coming! For when God acts, He acts on behalf of His dear people, and things always get better for us! Thanks and praise be God! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.