The Grands Letter

Dear Grands,

2 Peter 3:8-11, “But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness…

“Hey, are we there yet?” Sound familar? This and similar questions reflect the voices of young children when en route somewhere exciting with their parents. Believe it, when I tell you that some Christians –make that many Christians—voice the same when the subject of Judgment Day comes up in conversation. “Everything’s just like it has always been,” say some, while others want to debate the “one day is as a thousand years” phraseology.

Peter is simply saying that time does not exist in the LORD’s thinking like it exists in ours. Nevertheless, the LORD has not forgotten what He has promised about that terrible day of destruction called “the Day of the LORD.” Certainly, the LORD Jesus is going to come again, but that’s another thing altogether. The Day of the LORD will be an horrendous time, when He will bring Divine Judgment upon the world that did not want to acknowledge Him as LORD! He has not forgotten His promise, nor is He slow in bringing it to pass.

Do you know how a thief comes? He comes in the still of the night when people are unaware of his coming. It will be the same with the LORD Jesus. But, when He comes, it will be “with a roar, and the elements (like atomic particles) will explode mightily and destruction of mankind and its possessions will suffer under intense heat! The Earth and all its works will be totally destroyed! When the huge worldwide flood came in the days of Noah, the LORD promised never again to destroy the Earth with water; but He said nothing to Noah about fire.

How should mankind prepare for such destruction? Simply stated, on the whole, it cannot. But, individuals can and should prepare and escape. That there is an available escape is stated in that 11TH verse: “What sort of people ought you to be?”

Peter’s reply to his own question is “be in holy conduct and godliness.” In other words, get on God’s side and escape the destruction. He’s not coming out of joy for destruction. He wants everyone to be saved. He wants us all to accept His Son, Jesus Christ! That will be our only way of escape.

“Are we there yet?” Not quite; but every day brings us closer to that terrible day. If you don’t know Jesus, confess your sins to Him and ask Him to accept you into His family. If you do know Him, start telling those who don’t, so that they can escape the destruction! Time, even as we know it, is now running out!

Heartily in Christ Jesus,

(Dado III)

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

Springdale, Arkansas 72764

United States of America

“We never know that God is all we need

until He becomes all that we have.”