The purpose of the Apostle Peter’s inspired letters is to stimulate the followers of Christ to wholesome thinking. If our thinking is not wholesome we will have a wrong view of God. In chapter 3 of his second inspired letter Peter points out that because Christ’s promised return to judge the world has not yet occurred some have concluded that He will never return. If Christ does not return then there will be no judgment. If there is no judgment, then there will be no punishment for sin. And if there is no punishment for sin, then there is no need to live a righteous life. But this kind of thinking displays an ignorance of God’s character.
In chapter 3, verses 8 through 10 Peter writes, “But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.”
The first thing to understand about God’s character from this passage is that He is not bound by time. Since time is a created thing God is beyond and above it. We cannot apply human standards to God. In God’s sight length of time, or the duration of an event is not as important as the event itself. To Him all times, whether past or future are present. Whether something takes place in the blink of an eye or whether it requires many years to take place is all one. God will not be bound by human time-tables but will act when it is right to do so in accordance with His eternal plan. Christ will indeed return to judge the earth, but it will be when it suits God, and not according to the ideas of man. The question is whether we will be ready when he comes. Jesus said, “…if the master of the house had known in what hour the thief was coming, he would have watched, and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore be ready also, for the Son of Man is coming in an hour that you don’t expect him.” (Luke 12:39-40)
Another character quality of God which we can see from this passage is His patience. If He delays the return of Christ it is not because He is careless. On the contrary He wants to give everyone an opportunity to repent. It is tragic that many use God’s forbearance as an excuse to sin. But patience and forbearance are not the same as indifference. One day the time God has graciously granted mankind will come to an end and we will all have to face the judgment. Scripture says, “…Do you think this, O man… that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance” (Romans 2:3-4)
A third character quality of God is his love. Christ’s return is delayed because He does not anyone to perish. Scripture says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.” (John 3:16-17) Will we allow God to save us from the judgment, or will we refuse his love?
Peter writes that the judgment will be accompanied by great destruction. It may be that the destruction Peter writes about is the destruction of the heavenly bodies. But it is also possible that it refers to the destruction of the elements that make up matter, in other words all of creation. In another place it is written, “…he has promised, ‘Once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.’ The words “once more” indicate the removing of what can be shaken – that is, created things – so that what cannot be shaken may remain.” (Hebrews 12:26-27 NIV)
But regardless of whether this destruction is limited to the earth and the heavenly bodies or whether all creation is destroyed it should cause us to examine our lives to see whether we are pleasing to God. In verses 11 through 13 Peter writes, “Therefore since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness, looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.”
Peter makes it very clear that sooner or later Christ will return and the earth will be destroyed in a fiery judgment. But the followers of Christ need not fear this. All those who live according to the “way of righteousness” which is mentioned in chapter 2, verse 21 can welcome Christ’s return for then they will be rewarded.
The phrase translated “earnestly desiring” is a difficult one to understand. It could also be translated, “speed its coming.” Is it possible that the actions of the followers of Christ have an effect on when Jesus will return to earth? This may indeed be so. Jesus said, “This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:14) This would indicate that the sooner Christ’s followers obey His command to proclaim the gospel in every nation, the sooner He will return. Every follower of Christ needs to ask himself whether he is doing his part to speed Christ’s coming by telling others about Jesus.
Peter says that the followers of Jesus have been promised new heavens and a new earth. This is a reference to what was revealed to the prophet Isaiah. God said, “For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth…” (Isaiah 65:17) Adam and Eve were also given a new earth. But there will be a major difference this time. Mankind has largely destroyed the present world through sin. Not only have we defaced the earth but we have spread hatred and all sorts of evil between peoples. The new heaven and earth will be the home of righteousness. Sin will no longer be present. The followers of Christ will never again suffer as a result of evil. As it goes on to say in Isaiah, “…and the former things shall not be remembered, nor come into mind.” (Isaiah 65:17)