Looking forward to the New Heaven and a new earth
Feb 12, 2023 11:09:29 GMT -5
fearnot and oliverwithatwist like this
Post by Cindy on Feb 12, 2023 11:09:29 GMT -5
“looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens burning will be destroyed, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for NEW HEAVENS AND A NEW EARTH, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are looking for these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,” (2 Peter 3:12–14)
We know Jesus is coming back, but there are many who don’t have a peace about His coming because they know they are not spotless and blameless. Understand, dear saint, that in Luke 12:37 we hear Jesus saying, “Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching.” Therefore, if you are simply watching for His coming, if you are tired of this world system’s sin and corruption and want to see the Lord rule and reign at last—it is you the Lord calls blessed.
Many years ago when we went to see the Oakland A’s play, upon entering the stadium, Ben, seven, and Mary, eight, were given free wristbands with their names and seat numbers on them. As we made our way into the stands, we turned around to see Mary wasn’t with us. We looked and looked for her until—after about ten minutes—one of the ushers brought her to the seat number printed on her wristband. When we were reunited, did we yell at her? No. Did we say, “Mary, you are spotted and full of blame. Depart, Mary. Away with you!” No. For although she had wandered off, although she had become mixed up, all she really wanted was to be with Mommy and Daddy. So with tears in her eyes, we embraced her, sat her down between us, and bought her some popcorn, a hotdog, and a some cotton candy.
So, too, if your heart is like Mary’s, if you simply say, “Yes, I wandered away, but what I really want is to be with You, Father”—don’t you know He is going to embrace you as tightly as we embraced Mary?
“Wait a minute,” you say. “The text says not only are we to look for Him, but we are to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless.” That’s true. And the only way we can be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless is to be found in Him. The great news of the gospel is that the moment you became a Christian, you were positioned in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Consequently, when the Father looks at you, He doesn’t see you. He sees the spotless and blameless One, Jesus Christ.
And no one embodied the reality of this truth better than Peter…When Jesus called to Peter fishing on the Sea of Galilee in direct violation of the command He had given him to remain in Jerusalem, Peter couldn’t swim to shore fast enough. And when he got there, did Jesus lecture Peter, berate Peter, humiliate Peter? No. He served Peter (John 21:12, 13). Will Jesus be mad at you when He comes? Not if, like Peter, you’re saying, “Lord, even though I’m out to lunch, drifting out to sea, fishing where I ought not be, I still want to be with You.”
Jon Courson’s Application Commentary
For the sake of clarity, this isn't saying we shouldn't be concerned with the sin in our life, it's simply letting us know that our salvation is secure in Christ. We were not saved because we were good, but we are to try to be like Jesus because we love Him. However, even though we try and fail, we need to understand that doesn't affect our salvation.
We know Jesus is coming back, but there are many who don’t have a peace about His coming because they know they are not spotless and blameless. Understand, dear saint, that in Luke 12:37 we hear Jesus saying, “Blessed are those servants whom the Lord when He cometh shall find watching.” Therefore, if you are simply watching for His coming, if you are tired of this world system’s sin and corruption and want to see the Lord rule and reign at last—it is you the Lord calls blessed.
Many years ago when we went to see the Oakland A’s play, upon entering the stadium, Ben, seven, and Mary, eight, were given free wristbands with their names and seat numbers on them. As we made our way into the stands, we turned around to see Mary wasn’t with us. We looked and looked for her until—after about ten minutes—one of the ushers brought her to the seat number printed on her wristband. When we were reunited, did we yell at her? No. Did we say, “Mary, you are spotted and full of blame. Depart, Mary. Away with you!” No. For although she had wandered off, although she had become mixed up, all she really wanted was to be with Mommy and Daddy. So with tears in her eyes, we embraced her, sat her down between us, and bought her some popcorn, a hotdog, and a some cotton candy.
So, too, if your heart is like Mary’s, if you simply say, “Yes, I wandered away, but what I really want is to be with You, Father”—don’t you know He is going to embrace you as tightly as we embraced Mary?
“Wait a minute,” you say. “The text says not only are we to look for Him, but we are to be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless.” That’s true. And the only way we can be found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless is to be found in Him. The great news of the gospel is that the moment you became a Christian, you were positioned in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). Consequently, when the Father looks at you, He doesn’t see you. He sees the spotless and blameless One, Jesus Christ.
And no one embodied the reality of this truth better than Peter…When Jesus called to Peter fishing on the Sea of Galilee in direct violation of the command He had given him to remain in Jerusalem, Peter couldn’t swim to shore fast enough. And when he got there, did Jesus lecture Peter, berate Peter, humiliate Peter? No. He served Peter (John 21:12, 13). Will Jesus be mad at you when He comes? Not if, like Peter, you’re saying, “Lord, even though I’m out to lunch, drifting out to sea, fishing where I ought not be, I still want to be with You.”
Jon Courson’s Application Commentary
For the sake of clarity, this isn't saying we shouldn't be concerned with the sin in our life, it's simply letting us know that our salvation is secure in Christ. We were not saved because we were good, but we are to try to be like Jesus because we love Him. However, even though we try and fail, we need to understand that doesn't affect our salvation.