“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.
“Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:8-13 ESV)
Before Jesus Christ left this earth to return to the Father, he told his disciples that he was going to prepare a place for them, and that he would come again and would take them to himself, that where he was there they would be also. And this is a promise to all who believe in Jesus Christ with genuine God-persuaded faith in the Lord, that one day he is going to come back to the earth to gather up his faithful bride and to take us to be with him for eternity. And it is a hope that we hold on to as we wait for his return.
But not one of us knows the exact day nor hour of his return, although the Scriptures teach us that we should know when it is near by the signs of the times in which we live. And by the signs of the times in which we are now living on the earth, it appears to me that his return cannot be that far off. But we must be careful that we don’t get caught up in false prophecies where people are setting dates of his return nor to follow those who are mocking the fact that he has not yet returned as he said that he would.
For the same God who fulfilled his promise to destroy the earth and its people with water, except for Noah and his family and the animals they saved, he will judge the earth and its people again, only this time with fire. The Lord will then bring into judgment all the ungodly. And all the ungodly include many who profess faith in Jesus Christ with their lips but who do not honor him with their lifestyles, their practices. So a mere profession of faith in Jesus Christ is not enough to save you from the judgments of God.
And the fact that the Lord has not yet returned to judge the earth and its people and to take his faithful bride to be with him for eternity is not to be considered evidence that what he promised will not take place. He is just giving the people of the earth plenty of time to repent of their sins and to surrender their lives to him and to now follow him in obedience to his commands before the day of judgment when he will tell many who profess him as Lord to depart from him, for he never knew those who make disobedience to God their practice and not holy living (Matthew 7:21-23).
Therefore, we should not take lightly the fact that our Lord is going to one day, perhaps soon, return to judge the people of this earth with fire who have not surrendered their lives to Jesus Christ, who have not forsaken their sinful practices, and who are thus not walking in his ways according to his commands. And we should not assume that he will take us to be with him for eternity if our lives are not surrendered to him to do his will, but if we are still charting our own course, doing life the way we want, for our pleasure, and if sin is still what we practice as a matter of life course.
Instead, we should be those who are being diligent to be found in the Lord without spot or blemish, and at peace. And this does not mean that we will be absolutely perfect people (1 John 2:1-2) if we are true followers of Christ, but that sin should no longer be our habit, our practice. But now godliness and moral purity and uprightness and honesty and integrity and obedience to our Lord should be what we practice, in lifestyle, by the grace of God, in the power of God, according to the will and purpose of God for our lives.
For what do the Scriptures teach? God’s grace, which is bringing us salvation, is training (instructing) us to renounce (say “No!” to) ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives while we wait for our Lord’s return. For Jesus Christ gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them (Titus 2:11-14; Ephesians 2:10).
And Jesus said that if anyone would come after him, he must deny self, take up his cross daily (die daily to sin) and follow (obey) him. For if we hold on to our old lives of living in sin and for self, we will lose them for eternity, regardless of what faith we profess with our lips. But if for Jesus’ sake we deny self, die daily to sin, and follow our Lord in obedience to his commands, then we have the hope of eternal life with our Lord. For he died that we might die to sin and live to righteousness (Luke 9:23-26; 1 Peter 2:24).
[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; John 1:12-13; John 6:44; John 10:27-30; Acts 26:18; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Peter 1:15; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Heb 12:1-2; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15]
Songs in the Night
An Original Work / December 18, 2013
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” Acts 16:25 NIV ‘84
Lord, I praise You forevermore.
You, my Savior, I now adore.
Hope in heaven awaiting me,
Because You died at Calvary.
I have been forgiven,
And I’m bound for heaven.
Jesus set me free from
All my sin, I say.
I will praise Him always!
Lord, I love You for all You’ve done:
Overcame death, my vict’ry won!
Jesus saved me, and now I’m free!
I rejoice in His love for me.
I will walk in vict’ry!
My sin is but hist’ry!
I am free to please Him
With my life today.
I will love Him always!
Lord, I thank You for giving me
A new life bought at Calvary.
Loving Jesus, I meet with Him.
Tender mercies now flow within.
Lord, I am so thankful;
Through my Lord, I’m able
To sit at His table;
Fellowship with Him.
I will thank Him always!
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