Posted on January 4, 2023 by Elizabeth Welte in Freedom Fighters
“For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.”– 2 Peter 3:5-7 (NKJV)
Well, we’re in a new year. Not sure how you spent your NYE celebrations but, as for me, I spent my evening with my wife and in-laws, at God’s best kept secret, America’s Keswick. Keswick had faced a few challenges that looked like the Devil was throwing his monkey-wrench into the evening, BUT we serve a mighty God and He didn’t let the evening fail. Besides those grounds are “Where God Speaks to Hearts and Transforms Lives.” Satan can be a nuisance as he tries his best to deter the staff… BUT GOD!! It was very nice to ring in the new year with some of God’s people (everyone was invited but there wasn’t enough room) and to not be out in the chaos of this world. Just watch CNN’s version of bringing in the new year and you’ll understand what I mean.
And ya know, as things continue to deteriorate in “Secularland”, most Christians maintain a confident expectation that the solution to this whole mess will be “riding on the clouds, shining like the sun, at the trumpet call…and outta Zion’s hill, salvation comes.” Because at the very core of the Gospel message is the assurance that Jesus Christ returns, not as the suffering servant, as we read about in Isaiah 53, but as a conquering King, as we read about in Revelation 19:11-21; that His return is “just over the horizon.” As much as the residents of “Secularland” ridicule us over this confident expectation, the hope that is in us should tell us differently. As much as we try to warn these folks of their impending doom, there will be those left behind…sad, but true.
“But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” – 2 Peter 3:8-9
During morning devotional time with Jason Schack, a woman had shared her struggle with her sister accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. She said, “It was like trying to break a cement block with a hammer but then a miracle happened, and now at 75, she’s a child of God.” That was good news to hear, starting off her new year, but it raised questions. How many years of blessing did she lose out on because she lived under the fallacy that life just goes on until you die? Didn’t someone say something that could’ve changed her heart any sooner than now? That we’ll never know but praise God that now she can share the same hope that resides within her sister’s heart. Talk about a devoted faith that God can smash cement blocks…of which I’m chief (cement block that it)!! Now they both look for, with anticipated joy, on Christ’s return.
Many of us may feel that Christ shoulda already returned to put a stop on all this “woke” nonsense by now but Christ’s long suffering, as indicated in 2nd Peter 3, is most likely the reason He hasn’t. I know two sisters who now understand what that long-suffering looks like and their faith has been increased by that. So, what does that say about us? Have we lost our faith in His return? Well, if you’re living for Jesus, your faith shoulda never wavered and if it has then that’s why your nose should be in the 3rd chapter of 2nd Peter.
I don’t do too well with long-suffering myself. I’ve grown and live in a world that has become increasingly “instant pudding”, so patience isn’t a Fruit of the Spirit I possess in its entirety, but Amen for His grace! And as much as I also wanna see Jesus come back “riding on the clouds, shining like the sun, at the trumpet call” and clean up this mess once and for all, I need to be mindful that His delay may be because He is waiting for a full repentance. That doesn’t mean worldwide repentance either, that means your own. Maybe, just maybe, His long-suffering towards you is His gift to you so that you don’t perish in the final judgement. Hmm… and I’m saying this to myself as well.
We Christians are told to always “BE READY” in season and out of season so that you are able to share the hope that resides in you. I meet someone over the NYE celebrations that can attest to that and within her long-suffering to see her family member come to Christ, she is now ready to present herself at the Bema Seat. Jesus returning is still just over the horizon, but we got work to do. So be ready. Amen?
Written by Chris Hughes: Chris is a child of El Elyon, a son, a husband, and a father. He has an education in Biblical doctrine and is a graduate of The Colony of Mercy, 11/2003. He has been a Freedom Fighter contributor since 2008. You can email him at cphughes515@verizon.net.
Think About This: “If He is about to descend, on what account shall we be caught up? For the sake of honor. For when a king drives into a city, those who are in honor go out to meet him; but the condemned await the judge within…as He descends, we go forth to meet Him.” – John Chrysostom
The Daily Bible Reading: Job 1-5 You can download our 2023 Daily Bible Reading Plan by clicking here.
This Week’s Verse to Memorize: “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23
Consider a retreat at America’s Keswick retreat center.
