Look Forward

 "Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”

— 2 Peter 3:11-13

Gracious Lord Jesus, my friend and my King,

Everything will be destroyed. The word Peter uses in vss. 11 and 12 translated in the NIV to “destroyed” and “destruction” is lyo (λύω). It means "to loose something that is bound, to loosen, undo, dissolve anything bound, tied or compacted together.” The word is translated to English as “loose, break, unloose, destroy, dissolve, put off, melt, break up, break down.” Here’s what is fascinating. Peter says that the Day of the Lord will bring about the dissolving and unloosening of the heavens by fire and the elements will melt in the heat. Modern cosmology now proposes multiple scientific models in which the physical universe actually does dissolve, melt, or transform into something new. Peter’s apocalyptic imagery is not outdated—it is astonishingly forward-looking.

And as he looks forward with an incredibly accurate description, he calls us to look forward. What kind of lives are we to live as we look forward to the day of God? We ought to live holy and godly lives, seeking first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33). If we are living for this earth and making this world our kingdom, everything will be lost as it is burned up and melted, where every element is destroyed, every physical law changes, and the atomic structure of reality is reorganized. Isaiah 65:17 describes that day, “See, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered nor will they come to mind.”

Gracious Jesus, set my mind to look forward to the day you return to this earth and create new heavens and a new earth. Until that day, may I seek Your Kingdom and Your righteousness and live this life for You.

— In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!

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