Michael Harrison
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People sometimes say, “You think you have a better relationship with God than I do?” Well where does that come from. Since when is any Christian not willing to consider his condition? After all, we are not to take for granted any slothfulness, are we? "Oh well," someone said, "we know the scriptures you know...." Well, FWIW here is one verse that I consider a lot, and for very good reason:
1Co 10:12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
And did you know that people can fall, standing up? Well, what I mean by that is that one can look upright, but be lukewarm in the heart. And we are in the hour where this is most important: In Revelations we read that HE says, "You think you are rich!"
Anyway, so these:
2Pe 3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:
2Pe 3:2 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
2Pe 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
2Pe 3:4 And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
Walking after their own lusts! Why would that refer to unbelievers? After all, that is all they are capable of. So this must refer to believers (whether true or no, I cannot tell). Now I ask you also, who would refer to the Fathers as 'Fathers', except the children of faith? For the fathers referred to here are clearly the fathers of the Faith. Therefore we have some insight into whom this is written to, keeping in mind that the epistles are written to Christians, about Christianity, about the faith. They were not written ‘to’ sinners. You want evidence of that?
1Co 1:21 For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.
What this passage means is that it pleased God that by the foolishness of ‘preaching’ (faith cometh by hearing), that men should be saved. That means to tell them about Jesus, His resurrection, and the Cross, but not by reading them the epistles. It doesn’t say, as we just noted, that by reading them the epistles, they should be saved. This is not to say that they should not be used, just that they were not designed for that specifically.
And these verses could actually be written to believers as much as they seem to be about unbelievers.
2Pe 3:5 For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:
2Pe 3:6 Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:
2Pe 3:7 But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.
2Pe 3:8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
2Pe 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Then we come to this. Here it quite possibly refers to nuclear holocaust
2Pe 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
So then are we admonished:
2Pe 3:11 Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
2Pe 3:12 Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
2Pe 3:13 Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
Well:
2Pe 3:14 Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
Hum!
2Pe 3:15 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
2Pe 3:16 As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction.
Did I just read that 'longsuffering' leads to our salvation? (Take that OSAS!) Well, perhaps it refers to our completeness.
And this verse therefore, should be shouted from every pulpit if only the one verse is quoted, and they move on:
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
So, what is God after, our ignoring somethings in favor of something else? Or is HE after us not to miss anything? And who are the scoffers but perhaps those who overlook certain things to tend to other things. After all, we all want to praise the Lord, but does HE want that? I mean, are we to praise Him with dirty hands as though it is an acceptable sacrifice? It is hard to take that stance based on certain of the above verses.
It is not a new way of reading the Bible, but just reading the scriptures the way they are written.
Posts: 3273 | From: Charlotte N.C. | Registered: Sep 2007
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