Week 8: Return

The Day of the Lord

"The biggest shift in life is when you stop looking forward to your birthday and start looking forward to your retirement date." Somebody shared that funny quip with me the other day. I thought it rang true.

What day are you looking forward to? Is there a big birthday coming up or a big vacation day? Maybe you're expecting a child, and the big day is coming! In my house, we are always talking about someday that we are looking forward to and how far away it is. Every morning is a countdown to some holiday, birthday, or celebration. My daughter celebrated her 100th day of school just a few weeks ago. I don't know when we started celebrating that one, but my daughter was looking forward to it!

I've noticed as people get older, what they look forward to changes. Peter seems to reflect that transformation in his own writing. Late in his life, Peter writes the letter we refer to as Second Peter. In the third chapter, which is your reading for today, he expands on his longing for the day of the Lord. He genuinely calls on all Jesus' followers to look forward to the day of the Lord. There are three things I want you to know in this text as you read through it.

1. Peter contends that there is a reason that Jesus hasn't returned yet. He specifically warns that there will be false teachers who say that Jesus is not going to return. They will point to how long it's been since he ascended to the Father. They will say that nothing has really changed through all the years, so why would we think Jesus is suddenly going to return? Peter gives a specific reason for why Jesus hasn't returned yet. Pay special attention to this reason and what it teaches us about Jesus.
2. Also, pay special attention to fire's role in Jesus's return. This is not an easy passage to understand, but there is a lot of wisdom within it. Peter contrasts the creation account in Genesis with the re-creation that is to come with the return of Christ. What role will fire play in this?
3. According to this passage, why are we looking forward to the day of the Lord? I mean, Peter specifically says that we are hastening it on. He tells us to look forward to the day of the Lord. It's the day we can't wait to arrive, but why?