Lesson 29: Diligence to our true home

Read 2 Peter 3:1-18- https://www.bible.com/bible/59/2pe.3
 1This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,
2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles,
3 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires.
4 They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”
5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God,
6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.
7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.


As this last chapter of Peter’s final letter begins, we read an amazing prophecy of our current time. He wrote nearly 2000 years ago, by the Holy Spirit, that in the last days people would scoff at those of us who believe Jesus’ words, as written in Matthew 24, about the end times. In Verse 4 we read the very heart of the Theory of Evolution! Mankind did not dream up this idea 150 years or so ago. Jesus had already told His disciples about this lie while He was still on earth.

The lie that is being told to people today is that they can become anything they want to be. They can even become like God Himself and do anything He can do. The lie includes many points, including that possessions make us successful and money is the answer to all our woes. Because of our own desires to have more, we can easily fall into this temptation of wanting what someone else has (God calls this coveting), or even just wanting a good life here on earth (and many people point to Scripture saying God has promised this to us).

But just as it is a lie for us to believe that all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation so it is also a lie that Jesus promised every believer a good life here on earth. Jesus promised us a great life – in heaven (see Romans 8:12-17) because we are fellow-heirs with Jesus Christ, to whom God has given everything (John 3:31-36). In fact, Jesus promised us trouble (John 16:33), and Peter reminds us of Jesus’ words: We are to REJOICE when we suffer for Him (Matthew 5:10-12).

Peter reminds us the evil one will try to deceive us, and Jesus said this deception in the last days would be very powerful indeed, even to those who are His children (Matthew 24:24). We must be on our guard against deception, not following our own desires but His word (Matthew 10:16).

*What earthly desire is strongest in your life? If you do not have a verse memorized to defeat this desire, please let me know and I will give you one (or several).