All things made new

~2 Peter 3:13~

The elements

Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved,

what manner of persons ought you to be,

in holy conduct and godliness,

2 Peter 3:11

The “elements” are the atomic components into which matter is ultimately divisible, which make up the composition of all the created matter.  Peter means that the atoms, neutrons, protons, and electrons are all going to disintegrate (v. 11).  The whole of the physical, natural earth in its present form, with its entire universe will be consumed.  As man from atoms creates destructive bombs that burn a path of death, so God can disintegrate the whole universe in an explosion of atomic energy.  He exercises sovereign control over every person, object, and event, and not one molecule in the universe is outside that dominion.

Commentary from the MacArthur study Bible, notes for 2 Peter 3:7,10, and Revelation 1:8.

By Fire

He is patient with you,

not wanting anyone to perish,

but everyone to come to repentance.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way,

what kind of people ought you to be?

2 Peter 3:9b, 11a

We all know time is precious.  So what do you do to keep time from robbing you-from stealing your life from you?  We can make the most of each moment.  After all, we decide the amount of time we are willing to waste.  Many times we have much more time than we realize.  I’ve learned the hard way to not look at what time I don’t have, but instead at the amount of time that I ‘spend’ on meaningless things.  Track that for a week and you may be rather surprised, or possibly appalled, as I was.  Yes I was appalled at myself, specifically at the amount of time, money, and talent I was willing and able to waste.  Let not what is useful be burned up each day.

A World of Deception

We’re living in a world where people cut corners whenever they can.  After a while, scamming the system becomes a way of life.  That doesn’t work on the spiritual level.  There aren’t any shortcuts to spiritual growth.  The Bible uses the word “diligent” to describe how we should go about our Christian lives.  According to Hebrews 11:6, God rewards those who diligently seek Him.  Peter told us to be diligent to make our call and election sure.  “Be diligent,” he wrote,”to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless” (2 Peter 1:10 and 3:14).

As Christians we need to take responsibility for our walk with God, seeking to be more like Him, sharing our faith, and serving others.  Be diligent to serve the Savior.  Don’t try to scam the system.

Commentary from David Jeremiah Turning Point Devotional, November 11, 2016.

“Once you have made the World an end, and faith a means, you have almost won your man, and it makes very little difference what kind of worldly end he is pursuing.  Provided that meetings, pamphlets, policies, movements, causes, and crusades, matter more to him than prayers and sacraments and charity, he is ours-and the more ‘religious’ (on those terms) the more securely ours.  I could show you a pretty cageful down here.  Your affectionate uncle, SCREWTAPE.”

The Screwtape Letters, by C. S. Lewis.  Pg. 34-35

Porn is accepted

Porn is accepted, don’t you think?  According to the demand and the stats, you would think so.  Generally, I would sum up pornography as images of what was created (originally) to be private and precious moments, which were never meant to be projected on the world’s screen.  So it’s sort of a new version of something old and what God created to be good, twisted into a different version, a darker version.  The acts themselves are a different type of darkness, separate from the projection of the images of the acts-projecting the images is an extension of the acts in the images.  Whether you never view these images or you view them everyday, you should know what they really are.

The darkness of lust is difficult to escape.  If you are there, you are not free.  We are slaves to whatever controls us.  But you should know there is a chance of escape.  Jesus came here to rescue us all, and make us whole.  Seek Him and you will find Him.  When you do, thank Him for every incremental improvement each day.  Because of the nature of sin, change sometimes takes awhile.  Sort of like deconstructing a vault.

For His divine power has given us everything

required for life and godliness,

through the knowledge of Him who called us by

His own glory and goodness.

By these He has given us very great and precious promises,

so that through them you may share in the divine nature,

escaping the corruption

that is in the world through lust.

For this very reason,

make every effort to supplement your faith

with goodness,

goodness with knowledge,

knowledge with self-control,

self-control with endurance,

endurance with godliness,

godliness with brotherly affection,

and brotherly affection with love.

2 Peter 1:3-7

“He’s vulgar, Wormwood.  He has a bourgeois mind.  He has filled His world full of pleasures.  There are things for humans to do all day long without His minding in the least-sleeping, washing, eating, drinking, making love, playing, praying, working.  Everything has to be twisted before it’s any use to us.”  The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis, pg. 118