THE END OF THE WORLD

Prayer: Praise be to You, Lord, that we do not have to worry about how to answer the scoffers and all who don’t believe in Your coming judgment. You are the answer. Your longsuffering is the answer. It also teaches us not to be dismayed by what others say or do, but show them Your patient love in everything we say and do. We thank You that in the end it won’t be wickedness, torture, persecution and lies that prevail, but You and Your kingdom. Help us to faithfully and cheerfully do what has to be done for others in this evil world, and always be glad and in good spirits because every day for us is a day closer to Your great day. Amen! (Partially from To Live With Christ, p. 741)

Sermon Text, 2 Peter 3:3-14.  

Dear fellow redeemed in Christ:

We’re always saying, “It’s not the end of the world.” Well, here in 2 Peter 3 it is the end of the world. Here the Apostle Peter (by divine inspiration) says that the world will come to an end, and He even describes it.

His description is terrifying. He describes the created world, the heavens–meaning the skies, stars, planets, etc. – and the earth, all of it including anywhere you can travel and all you see, are burned or dissolved by intense heat. It says this not once but four times: “The heavens and the earth are reserved for fire until the day of judgment.” And: “The heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat.” Again: “All these things will be dissolved.”And finally: “The heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat.”

God does not tell you about the end of the world to scare you. He doesn’t even tell us this so we can scare others into repenting. It does sound as if that’s why, where it speaks of the “scoffers that will come in the last days.”

The scoffers are all around us. Our country has moved into what they call a “post-Christian” state. It used to be, most people you met would say they’re Christian. Now it isn’t that way. Most people don’t call themselves Christian; or even if they do, Christian teachings don’t influence their life at all, and they are defiant in defending their sins. Sometimes we can feel angry when we get this response from other people or when we see how others attack our Christian faith.

Peter’s words “the day of the Lord will come,” tempt us to scare others into changing their tune, kind of “just you wait, you’ll see.” But this would be misusing what God says here, for none of this is about making anyone afraid.

Quite the opposite. For right in the middle of this reading, is this verse: “The Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” This says God wants everyone to be saved and doesn’t want anyone to be lost or condemned. It says this is His “will,” what God wants.

This verse comes right in the middle of all this end-of-the-world stuff. It shows that God is not trying to scare us. This verse is a relief. It’s given to us so that we use this end-of-the-world information the right way.

This is where our anger toward others ends. Our emotion that’s connected to the Last Day isn’t anger but fear. This end-of-the-world stuff in 2 Peter stirs up feelings of fear. Whatever anger you may have toward another person, or at some situation, goes away on the last day. What the Bible teaches about the end of the world gives certainty that God’s justice will be done, never fear. Far from looking at others, Judgment Day makes you look at yourself: where will you be? You don’t want to be among the “goats” – those who don’t repent or believe in Jesus, who will perish, who won’t have everlasting life – to whom He’ll say: “Depart from Me into the everlasting fire” (Mt 25:41).

So as we hear in 2 Peter about “the day of the Lord,” it’s easy to be fearful and insecure. So that you don’t hear these words fearfully, the Holy Spirit – who has nothing but compassion for people who listen to fears – directs Peter to write these heartening words that give you certainty of your salvation and take away your fears: “The Lord is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

For the Lord knows us. He knows you. As a sinner, according to your sins you must stand in fear of God’s judgment, afraid of what might happen. Hearing about such big and dreadful things, you might be tempted to think that little you, and the little details of your life, are not very significant. 

When things happen in these last days, some of the signs that Day of the Lord is near, which include storms and hurricanes and tornados, and which also include wars in Israel and Ukraine and wherever else, and which include instability in governments and the global economy, this causes people to “scoff” at God’s ways, they think God isn’t involved or doesn’t care. 

You don’t need to have all the answers, or be defensive about it. All you do know is what God tells you here: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” This keeps you from fearing.

First, it keeps you from fearing because it’s His will that “not any” should perish eternally. His concern is for the “any,” nobody’s left out, so all the ups and downs in your faith, every trial or temptation, every sin, every hurt, it’s all important to Him. He doesn’t want “any” – including you, to perish.

Second, it keeps you from fearing because you have His wonderful word “longsuffering,” which is patience, but it is the kind that “suffers long,” that waits even when it’s hard or you have to wait a long time. 

Hasn’t He waited for you? Sometimes you take too long to come to Him. Sometimes you have all the time to give to the world, even in your worries, but too little time for Him. Here He says His patience isn’t in danger of running out. He is “longsuffering” – toward you too!

Third, after the end of the world is fully described, this reading ends with the words “in peace, without spot, and blameless.” He applies this to you. This also is to take away your fears, that you are “without spot and blameless.” But how can you be sure this is true of you? It’s by faith in Jesus:

In 1 Peter it says “You were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot” (1:18-19). It’s Christ who is without blemish and without spot! Peter uses these words of you, “without spot, and blameless,” in order to connect you to Jesus, who is the Lamb of God without blemish. He shed His blood for you, you’re worth that much to Him. In light of the end of the world, this – the blood He shed for you – makes it possible for you to be not fearing, but “in peace,” with a clear conscience and untroubled outlook.

This is what happens in the Lord’s Supper. He places in front of you Jesus, the Lamb of God. After the words of institution are spoken, we sing to Christ, the Lamb of God, who is present with His body and blood. The pastor holds up to you the consecrated bread and wine – Jesus your Savior, who is here. 

He is coming in power and great glory on the Last Day. But first He comes in weakness under the forms of bread and wine, and does what is powerful and glorious: As you eat His body you are one with Him, and as you drink His blood it cleanses you. He forgives your sins, takes away all reason for God to be angry with you. And so the Lord’s Supper is for you when you are fearful and insecure, in these last day. He makes you secure and safe. He takes away your fear and makes you strong and courageous. 

This also affects what Peter says at the end of this reading: “Therefore what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God?”

This says that as the end of the world gets closer, the confidence we have through Christ is something we are to show. Our conduct is to be “holy and godly.” It begins with confessing your faith boldly, which you do when you come to His Supper and “proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.” It continues by confessing your faith boldly in how you live, aware that what you do is seen in the light of the great Day of the Lord. 

I think especially of youth, kids and teenagers, who are pressured to go along with what is supposedly popular, and if you don’t you’re made to feel as if you’re the only one and won’t have any friends. I also think of how Christians today are pressured about being out of step with everyone else. 

But these words inspired by the dear Holy Spirit – who feels only compassion for people who listen to fears – give you the knowledge that there is only one Friend whose opinion matters, only one leading the way, and if you are in step with Him, walking in His steps, that’s all that matters. You know the Day is coming when you will find yourself part of the “new heavens and new earth, in which [only] righteousness dwells.”

The Lord’s Supper strengthens you in this: not only strengthening you in the true faith, but it also strengthens you in “what manner of persons you ought to be in holy conduct and godliness.”Because you see Christ clearly – the Coming One – and He takes away your fears about what is coming, you can march confidently after Him in all you believe, think, say and do, and others who follow you will find their way to Him. Amen!