Posted in Christian Service, Eternity, Evangelism, Heaven, Life Inspiration

Truth is on our side, Time is Not

God's Not Slack

I know people, and you likely do too that love nothing more than to stir with a big stick. Perhaps that’s a West Virginia colloquialism, but I doubt it. Simply put it refers to those people in our lives who stir strife, knowingly or not, they do. But that same concept applied to the Christian walk of faith isn’t a bad thing at all; and although to the unsaved it may appear for a little while that we’re stirring strife too, we know that the peace of Jesus is anti-strife. So today I’m following Peter’s example of encouragement and suggesting that you might want to do a little stirring yourself today.

Surely you Remember!

2 Peter 3:1

This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:

Do you remember the first time you felt the urgency of the Lord’s return. I may not remember the first, but I remember the feeling. That sense that I needed to tell everyone I loved (and even those I didn’t) that they needed to get their act together before it was too late. The idea of anyone going to Hell was not something I wanted to be a part of and I knew that even though it was their choice to make a decision for salvation, it was my choice to tell them or not. Satan has to stick  his  two cents in and tell us that we’re “stirring with a big stick” and that we’ll certainly offend  our friends and family and in so doing drive them further away. But the reality of that is Abraham said to the rich man in Hell in Luke 16:26And beside all this, between us and you there is a  great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

That’s too far. Tell them.

Surely they’ll Rebel

2 Peter 3:2-4

 That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour: Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.

For 2,000 plus hears we’ve been saying, Jesus is going to return. That’s plenty of time for Satan to insert doubt into the mind of this generation of people. It’s been too long… tell them anyway, because Hell’s too far.

Surely they’ll Reason

2 Peter 3:5-7

For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water: Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: But the heavens and the earth, which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

Science has given them reasons to doubt by using the reason of man to explain the unexplainable. What they couldn’t explain they made up and called it fact. The fact is the earth was first destroyed by water, the second will be by fire. Even though they reason in their minds in err we are without a reason to tell them the truth.

Surely it is our Responsibility

2 Peter 3:8-12

But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?

Peter asks “what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?”

Regardless of the time, the truth still stands. Jesus is coming back. Truth is on our side, time is not.  Stir somebody for Jesus today!

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The Private Times of a very Public Gospel

2 Peter 1:20

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

I praise God for a simple mind. Even when God gives me something that I think is spiritually “deep”, I’m pretty sure it’s from the shallow end of the pool. When I read the scripture I seldom find any grand and glorious revelation, it’s more of an “Oh, so that’s how it is Lord, thanks!” The scriptures (at least the recommended King James Version) are written on an eighth to tenth grade level. God loves simple people, what can I say. Theologians who can delve into the scripture and write page upon page of deep theological studies  have nothing on me, so can I, it’s just when I explain it it’s in much simpler terms. Where Dr. Mryon Guiler, one of my heroes of biblical knowledge, can expound great truths for an hour on two words from one text, I can for all intents and purposes read the text and “get it.” I’m okay with that. The Bible was meant for understanding.

The Big Lie

“I don’t read the Bible because I just don’t get it.”

I said the same thing… and then I got saved. Ahhhhhhh. Yes I said it. I’m not saying you’re not saved, but you’re either not saved or you’re rebellious. I know from experience because I’ve been both. As a baby Christian in 1996 I discovered what 2 Peter 1:20 meant. This morning I discovered it anew! That’s how the Bible works. I recommend you not take my word for anything written here, but read 2 Peter, Chapter 1 for yourself. It’s but 21 verses, it won’t kill you. As a matter of act it will give you life! But here it is, Shari quoted in the simples of forms.

Verse 1-8

The Bible is all that and a bag of chips. No, it’s much, much more! It’s everything you need to get by in this world unscathed by the wickedness you’re surrounded in. It is the precious promises of God. Perhaps we’ve heard that phrase so much we’ve dulled our ears to it. Or perhaps promises have become so “un-meaningful” in life that we’ve stopped believing the word actually exists in its purest form. Well it exists, and through eternity we’ll experience that every Word in the Holy Text was real. And you need it to survive. I warned you I was simple, read it yourself, you’ll probably get much more!

Verses 9-10

Remember when I said if you don’t get the Bible, you’re either not saved or not right. Insert grin here. It’s the truth, God said it first. Verse 10 reads “Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure…” If you’re not understanding the Bible, make sure you’re saved.

Verses 11-15

Peter reminds them and now I remind you that you need to stay in the Word of God. It’s your ticket to Heaven. Peter wrote (the Lord said) in verse 11 “For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” It’s not just be reading, but by understanding that the Word of God is how the Lord speaks to His children. So you may ask “What about the people who can’t read and understand.” If you’re reading this, you can understand. All others, God will take care of, He’s a very nice God that way.

Verse 16

Peter writes as an eye witness of the Savior.

For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

We’ll read the Sunday Gazzette and take it for the gospel (foolish mortals that we are) and yet question if the Bible is literal or figurative. Call me simple, but if a guy was there, and speaks as an oracle (truth and revelation) of the Creator of the Universe, I’m gonna believe him over some yahoo that received a “new revelation.”

Verses 17-19

In Peter’s day he walked with the LORD, he heard GOD Himself from Heaven speak to His Son, Jesus Christ. He was there at the mount of transfiguration (Luke 9:27-36) when Christ spoke with Moses and Elias. But now Christ dwells within the heart of the saved, which is how you interpret the Bible.

Verses 20-21

Which is what started this blog today.

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Don’t worry that you don’t understand the entire Bible, what you need to understand the Holy Ghost will reveal to you. I’m not a Bible Scholar. I don’t know all there is to know about the Bible, but little by little, (just what my pea brain can get) God reveals to me His Word through the Holy Spirit. It’s not just for Preachers. Peter was fisherman, Matthew was an IRS agent, and so on and so forth God used ordinary people. He’ll use you too. In these perilous times you need to understand current events, and if you want the truth go to the Bible, not the evening news.