Earnestly Desiring the End

Believe it or not, Peter says we are to earnestly desire the end of the present world. You may say, ”That sounds morbid!” Nevertheless, the apostle writes that we are to anticipate the dissolving of this evil age.

”Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?” (2 Peter 3:11-12, NKJV).

Now, this does not mean that when destruction comes we are to shout happily, ”Look, it‘s all burning.” No, Peter‘s words here are meant to sustain us. Whenever we become discouraged in this life, we are to rejoice, saying, ”It‘s all going to go up in smoke anyway.”

This truth also is meant to stir us up about the kind of people we are to be. When you read these words about a great fire coming and a bright, new world where righteousness will reign, do you rejoice? Perhaps, instead, you cry, ”Oh, God, I believe what your Word says. I believe one day you are going to send your fire to melt down this sin-cursed world. I believe a new, holy world is coming; but I don‘t believe I measure up with all holy conversation and godliness. I don‘t feel I meet the standard Peter writes about, and I‘m afraid I won‘t make it.”

Beloved, I have glorious news for you. I can show you, beyond any shadow of a doubt, that God greatly desires to preserve you for his coming world. You need his life-giving truth in your heart to sustain you when the enemy comes against you like a flood.

Here are several verses about what the Lord has pledged to do for you.

”The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; he shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore” (Psalm 121:7-8).

”For the Lord loves justice, and does not forsake his saints; they are preserved forever, but the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off” (Psalm 37:28).

”You who love the Lord, hate evil! He preserves the souls of his saints; he delivers them out of the hand of the wicked” (Psalm 97:10).

”Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).