Turn with me again to 2 Peter
chapter 3. We considered in that first service
out of this blessed chapter our need of being reminded and of
hearing God's Word. Secondly, a warning concerning
the scoffers in this world. Now thirdly, let's consider this. the certainty of Christ's second
coming. 2 Peter 3, verse 8, 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. Now the Scripture says they were
willingly ignorant, They willingly disregarded some
things. God made this world and it's
the Lord's. God destroyed it the first time because of rebellion. And God is going to do it again.
They willingly disregard that. But Peter says, Beloved, be not
ignorant of this one thing. Time is not the determining factor. as far as God is concerned, when
it comes to His Second Coming. God's Word is certain. Be not
ignorant of this one thing. Don't be discouraged by men's
mocking. Don't be discouraged by those
that ridicule and disbelieve God's Word. Don't be discouraged
by that. A thousand years with the Lord is a day. God is eternal,
the I Am, the self-existent One. A thousand years in light of forever. The Lord, verse 9, is not slack
concerning His promise, as some men count slackness. but is long-suffering to usward,
not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."
Never lose sight concerning the people that God's speaking to,
beloved, beloved, like precious faith. The promise of the Lord
to return, to receive His own, It's not being just delayed as
some men count delay or tardiness. That's not the issue. The scripture sets forth that
the long suffering of God is to us. God's elect. God Almighty for
the sake of His people. has not ended this world yet. I pray that God have mercy today and produce by His Spirit the
fruit of His eternal purpose and will, the salvation of His
people, that God Almighty would call His elect. But I know this,
As far as God Almighty is concerned, the Lord is long-suffering to
usward His people, and He's not willing that any of His people,
His elect... Now, I know that only the elect
are going to be saved. I know that. Almighty God gave the Lord Jesus
Christ a people. That's Ephesians 1-4. We know
that. And John 6.37 says, All that
the Father giveth me shall come to me, and him that
cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. If a man or a woman
comes to Christ as a needy sinner, it's because God made them willing
in the day of His power. Gave them a new heart. And if
they don't come, it's because they don't want to. They just
don't want to. I'd rather go to hell. I'd rather
go to hell. I'd rather go to hell than come
to Christ. Now that's just the way it is. I know it's kind of
plain, but it's just... They willingly disregard God's
Word. But God is not tardy concerning
His promise Some men count tardiness. He's trying to give everybody
a chance. No, no he's not. I'm telling you, I'm thankful
for the long suffering of God. I think growing up, I was a little on the rebellious
side. I think my mama would agree with
that. I mean, I came back from the Navy, got
up one morning, remember that mom? Got up and dad looked at
me and said, well, you've been here long enough. That's exactly
what he did, wasn't it? I said, what do you mean? He
said, you've been here long enough. You're out. And I mean to tell
you, buddy, I was out. In rebellion, rebellion against
God, rebellion against my parents, rebellion, rebellion, rebellion. The Lord is not slack concerning
His promise, as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering
to us. His people, not willing that
any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. that
all should think differently. That's what repentance means.
Think differently. I'm a rebel against God by nature.
And Almighty God by His grace and compassion and long-suffering
showed mercy to this sinner. I know something by experience
of just out and out rebellion. I know something about that,
Neal. And I know something about the longsuffering of God to show
mercy. God who has shown mercy to me,
oh, may I be found showing mercy to you for Christ's sake. But the day of the Lord, verse
10, will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens shall
pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with
fervent heat. And the earth also and the works
that are therein shall be burned up. Everything that appears or
doesn't appear, everything that Almighty God has created is going
to come to nothing as far as this world is concerned. This
world is creation. It says, the scripture says,
the day of the Lord is going to come in a day when you don't
think. When you think not. Like a thief in the night. When
you're not watching. When you sleep. Sleeping. And the heavens are going to
pass away with a great noise. Pass away. It means withingly. That's what the word means. A
great noise. Withingly. Whiz. It's gone. And the elements. This was amazing
to me. It says the heavens shall pass
away. I can understand that. And the
elements shall melt with fervent heat. And the earth also in the
works. And I thought the elements. It
means the basic components from which all things are made. The
atoms. Atoms are going to just... There
won't be anything left. The heavens, the elements shall
melt with fervent heat. The earth also. Those things
that God created the first time. and the works, the earth also
and the works. Everything that God created,
everything that man's ever made out of what God created. All
of man's toils and efforts, your bank account, you know, all that
land you got and all that stuff that's so important, so important.
It's not going to be here. Here's what's going to be left.
We're going to stand before God. That's what's going to be left.
Everything is going to be destroyed concerning the Lord's first creation
of this world. Peter said, I'm writing to you
to stir up your pure mind by way of remembrance. God's going to come back. The Lord's coming back. And the
fourth point, last point, How are we, as believers, to walk
in this world? Verse 11 and 12 says, Seeing
then that all these things shall be dissolved. Knowing that everything
I've got, you've got, everything you possess, I possess, everything.
Knowing that all these things, all these things, the earth,
the heavens, the elements, the works, seeing then that all these things
shall be dissolved. Let me ask you this, and I'm
saying this to all of us. What is so important? I know,
I know, we all think this way. I've got to provide, I've got
to do this, I've got to do that. I understand that. I understand
that. But I also understand that we're
all going to stand before God and all is going to be burned
up. I understand that. I understand that. I know this. You seek first the
Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all of these things are going
to be added unto you. I know that. I'm talking to me. I'm talking
to me. You listen in. There is nothing that is more
important than worshiping God. There's nothing that is more
important. I think it was Martha. Somebody
in this room told me one time that Martha said somebody, I
don't even remember who it said to, but she said this, if you're
too busy to worship God, you're too busy. You're just too busy. I know this. The Lord's coming
back. I know it. I know, I know it
in my head for sure. Lord, help me to know it in my
heart and believe it. Seeing then that all these things
shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in
all holy conversation, godliness, looking for and hastening 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." Seeing that the Lord's second coming is going
to be so sudden, so violent, so destructive, how prudent, how diligent, how
zealous, and how careful should I be in my walk? Striving. Considering, considering. I don't want to walk as a scoffer.
I don't want to walk as a mocker. I don't want to act as though
these things don't matter. I don't want to do that. I want
to walk as a believer. I want to walk as one that God's
called out of darkness, once taught something of the grace
of God. I want to walk waiting for Him. I want to be mindful
of that. I want to be reminded. I need my mind stirred up. So I know this, if this is the
Word by which God stirs up, I want to hear His Word. I want to hear
that. I want to search His Scriptures. Lord, give me a heart to do that.
Lord, forgive me where I fail to do it. I don't want to do
that. I want to walk in the light that He's given me. What manner
of persons ought you to be in holy walk? Conversation doesn't
mean talk. But it means in your walk, in
godliness, walking, loving one another, faithful to hear Him,
faithful. And keep me, guard me, Lord,
against the temptation. of my flesh. I'm so prone to wander. That's
what that song we just sang. Prone to wander. Lord, I feel
it. Nevertheless, verse 13, we, according
to His promise, look for new heavens, new earth wherein dwelleth
righteousness. Nevertheless, knowing that these things shall
surely come to pass, We, God's people, according to His Word,
according to His promise, and you know, if Lord promised something, we write this down. It's going
to come to pass. He said, My Word is not going
to return void, it's going to accomplish the purpose for which
it was sent. I know this, the preaching of
the Gospel. I know what's going to happen
this morning concerning this word. To God's people, their
hearts are going to be stirred. And the Lord leaves man and woman
to themselves. It's just going to be words.
I know that. But nevertheless, we, according
to His promise, we look for a new heaven, a new earth, wherein dwelleth
righteousness. And I can tell you what kind
of earth it's going to be. I know what it's going to be. I know
what it's going to be. It's going to be one just like
this one. You know how I know that? Because God made this first
one. You know what he said? It was
very good. It was very good. Now I don't understand all of
it. I don't understand. I'm going to say something about
this in just a second here as I wrap this up. I don't understand
it all, but I know this. When God made this world the
first time, God Almighty made it just exactly good. Very good. But there's going
to be a new heaven and a new earth. And in this new heaven
and new earth, there's going to be dwelling righteousness. Only those that Almighty God
has called out of darkness, robed in the righteousness of His Son,
is going to dwell on this earth. And the rest of them are not
going to be here. Revelation chapter 20, verse
12 says this, I saw the dead. Small and great stand before
God. The books were opened. Another book was opened, which
is the book of life. And the dead were judged out
of those things which were written in the books according to their
works. The sea gave up the dead which
were in it. Death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them.
They were judged, every man, according to their works. Death
and hell cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast
into the lake of fire. Write it down. It's coming to
pass. It's going to come to pass. Verse 14, Wherefore, beloved,
Seeing that you look for such things, be diligent that you
may be found of him in peace without spot, blameless. Seeing that we're looking for
these things that are surely coming to pass, be diligent. You know that's something right
there. that a believer cannot conjure up in himself, but you
write it down, and every believer is found. Diligence to make his
calling and election sure. Every time I hear somebody preach
on, I've told you this before, the mark of a believer, this
is the mark of true faith. Bam! You tell me one more time what
God has to say, the mark of His people are. Tell me one more
time. You tell me again. I want to
hear that. I believe God and I have no confidence in my flesh
and I love the brethren. Tell me that again. Lord, give
me that. Oh God, give me that. Keep me. Seeing that we look
for such things, be diligent that you may be found of Him.
I think about that song we sing, I put in there, old John Newton
wrote, Lord, if I've never believed you before today, help me again
right now. I can't change yesterday. Lord,
if I didn't know you yesterday, yesterday's gone, water under
the bridge, yesterday's air. Lord, have mercy on me right
now. Lord, save me now. Save me or
I'm going to perish. Be diligent. and account that
the long-suffering of God is salvation, even as our beloved
brother Paul, also according to the wisdom given unto him,
hath written unto you." Just reckon with yourself. Be confidently persuaded that
the delay of Christ's second coming is because God is going
to save His people. That's what He's saying. Account
that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation. That the salvation
of God's elect is assured, so God's long-suffering. Not willing,
as we just read a moment ago, that any should perish. He said,
even as our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given
unto him, hath written unto you. Where did he write that? Romans,
I'll read it to you, Romans 2.4. This is what the apostle Paul
wrote, Romans 2.4. He said, "...or despises thou
the riches of his goodness, and forbearance, and longsuffering,
not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance."
Don't despise the longsuffering of God. Don't think ill. The longsuffering of God is because
of the assurance of the elect of God. Verse 16, "...as also
in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which
are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned
and unstable rest, as they do also the other scriptures unto
their own destruction." Peter says he spoke of some things,
in which are some things hard to be understood. There are some
things that we can understand. I understand, but there are some
things that I just have to admit. I don't understand. There are
some things that are hard to be understood. The depth of God's
sovereignty. The depth of His power. that
He rules and reigns, that a leaf doesn't fall. All things, and
all things is going to have to include all things. All things
work together. How does the changing of the
seasons, there's a promise I know of this, of God's stability,
I understand, but the depth of those things, the depth of God's
sovereignty, the manner of Christ's second coming, the trump of God's
going to sound. with a shout, that the dead in
Christ are going to rise first in a new body. An incorruptible
body. I know that. Job says these eyes,
with these eyes, I'm going to see God. With these eyes right
here, but they're going to be changed. I know some things are
hard to be understood. As also in all his epistles,
speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard
to be understood, which they that are unlearned, unlearned
of God, and unstable, they rest, they twist the Scriptures, as
they do also the other Scriptures, unto their own destruction. Ye
therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, Beware,
lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked,
fall from your own steadfastness." Now, I'm going to have to stay
here just a second, because all of you, every believer wants
to know what he just said. Let me tell you this, first of
all, Peter admonishes the believer to be wise. Be wise. Here's what He said. Ye therefore,
beloved, seeing ye know these things before. Meaning, God has
told you something before He's going to do it. That's what He
just said. That's a sign of a friend of
God. The Lord would tell His people
something. To those that are not His friends. He said, you're my friends. But
God tells His people. Knowing, seeing you see these
things before, that you've been warned ahead of time. That's
mercy. Therefore, these things, knowing
these things, let's be watchful. Beware lest ye also, being led
away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own steadfastness.
Let me assure you, according to God's Word, that Peter is
not insinuating that a believer can fall from grace. There's
no way. No way. We have God's Word on
this. We are kept by the power of God
through faith. The Lord Jesus Christ said in
John 10, 28 concerning His sheep, I give unto them eternal life
and they shall never perish. Jude 1.24 says He is able to
keep us from falling. A believer is not going to perish. He is not going to perish. I
have God's Word on that. But the Apostle is giving us
some warning here to be on guard against something that I touched
on at the beginning of that other message on there, on the slothfulness. of our flesh. I want you to turn
to Galatians 2. Now this, there's a word in here
that I'm going to, you know, when he says right here, knowing these things, be wary lest ye
also being led away. Led away. Now I'm going to show
you what this means. Galatians chapter 2 verse 11. Galatians 2 11. 11 and 12. Let
me just tell you a quick Something that happened. Peter was over
here and he was sitting down and he was eating and kind of
fellowshipping with some Gentile believers. Peter was a Jew. And Peter was sitting with some
Gentile believers and fellowshipping with them, sitting down at the
table with them. Galatians chapter 2 verse 11 to 13. Paul is saying, but when Peter
was come to Antioch, I withstood him to the face because he was
to be blamed. For before that certain came
from James, they did eat with the Gentiles. But when they were
come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were
of the circumcision. And the other Jews disassembled
likewise with him, insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away
with their dissimulation." Now let me tell you what happened. was sitting and eating with some
believers who were Gentiles. And when Peter saw some Jews
coming in, he was carried away. He got up and walked away because
he didn't want them to think that he was doing something that
wouldn't approve them. He was carried away. He did not
fall from grace, but he was slothful in his faithfulness. Ye therefore, beloved, seeing
ye know these things before, beware lest ye also being led
away with the error of the wicked. The apostle is warning us to
be careful. How we act. Because what Peter
did affected those other believers, those other Jews that they got
up and walked away to. You may think that your actions
don't have any bearing on anybody else, but let me tell you something,
according to God's Word, it does. Be careful, be careful. Peter said, I'm warning you.
You know how Peter knew something about this? Peter did it. Peter did it. That's what I'm
saying. He was writing from experience. Beware, lest ye also be led away. Not falling from grace and perishing. He's writing to the beloved.
Ye therefore, beloved, seeing you know these things before,
you be careful. You be careful how you walk. But grow in grace, verse 18,
and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, to Him
be glory both now and forever. Amen. Grow in grace. For a sinner, to have the grace of God bestowed
upon him is a humbling thing. Paul said, by the grace of God
I am what I am. It is a humbling thing. So to
grow in grace is a growth in the awareness of my need of grace. Growing in grace is a growth
in the knowledge of my need of grace. The older I get, let me
tell you how I see myself. I'm getting worse and worse.
Somebody said, well, I don't see how you can get worse and
worse. Well, I tell you what, then let me say it like this.
I just seem to know it more. The older I get, I used to think
that people, you know, the older they got, the more holy they
got or something. I don't know. I always thought
that older people, you know, grandmothers and grandfathers,
they just got better and better. I have yet to meet a believer.
that does not have that attitude. I remember listening to Brother
Scott before he passed away, before the Lord took him home.
Listening to what he would talk about, about God's grace, and
mercy, and his need, his need of God keeping him. I thought,
you know, I listen, I go talk to Brother Henry, and I'm telling
you, that's the conversation from these aged and taught Believers. God keeps them. God Almighty
keeps them. Grow in grace. And how does the
Scripture reveal that we grow in grace? Or let me ask you this,
what's said to be perfectly joined to growing in grace? Here it
is, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And again, how does faith come? hearing the Word of God. Make
much of hearing God's Word. To Him be glory now and forever. Amen. If glory is given to Him
now and forever, He's God. Lord, bless these words to our
heart for Christ's sake.