December 6, 2024

Today's Reading: 2 Peter 3:1-18

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 14:1-23, 2 Peter 3:1-18

What sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness? (2 Peter 3:11)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

Someone once said, “Live each day as though Christ died yesterday, rose today, and is coming back tomorrow.” A version of this quote is attributed to Martin Luther, but the same sentiment was already expressed in 2 Peter 3.

Peter mentions that people are scoffing at Christians, specifically, for their claims that Christ would return and judge the world. Early Christians spoke about the return of Christ as though it was certain to happen at any moment. 2,000 years later, we do not live with the same urgency, so to keep from being complacent, we remind ourselves during Advent and as often as we confess the creeds, that He shall come again with glory to judge the living and the dead.

St. Peter assures his readers that the end is imminent. After all, what is time to the Lord? To the eternal and timeless God, a day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years is as a day. By that logic, it’s only been a couple of days since Christ died, rose, and ascended into heaven!

Still, why hasn’t the Lord returned? What is He waiting for? Peter explains that the Lord is not slow; He is gracious, patiently giving time for more to repent and not perish. Nevertheless, when He comes, it will be sudden and unexpected, like a thief, and then the earth and the heavenly bodies will be destroyed, and the works done on them will be exposed. 

In light of this inevitable judgment, St. Peter asks: “What sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness?” The answer is that Christians are to hope in the promise of Christ and await the new heavens and new earth in which righteousness dwells. That is, in light of Christ’s sacrificial death and resurrection victory, and His promise to raise us up on the Last Day, we are to be hopeful, looking forward to His return.

The problems on this earth and the lack of righteousness are not just a problem for scoffers, it is our problem as well. None of us could withstand the coming judgment apart from Christ. So, thanks be to God that Christ has conquered sin and death for us! He has promised forgiveness and salvation to all who believe. On account of His cross and empty tomb, we can look ahead to a time and place “in which righteousness dwells.” 

One day Christians will live in perfect peace with God and one another. When Christ comes again and makes all things new, then, at last, we will be what we were created to be: holy and righteous, without spot or blemish. Until then, we can practice holiness and godliness and “…grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

May Christ our intercessor be And through His blood and merit Read from His book that we are free With all who life inherit. Then we shall see Him face to face, With all His saints in that blest place Which He has purchased for us. (LSB 508:6)

-Rev. Joel Shaltanis, pastor of Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Plano, TX.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, KY.

What makes a church "good?" Come join the fictional family as they test out eight different churches in their brand-new town and answer this question along the way. Will the Real Church Please Stand Up? by Matthew Richard, now available from Concordia Publishing House.