December 23 | Nearer Now
2 Peter 3:10
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.” (NIV)
“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.” (KJV)
In this verse, Peter gives us a new revelation concerning the Day of the Lord as it relates to the cataclysm of fire. Old Testament prophecy clearly related that day to the judgment, the second advent, and the subsequent reign of the Messiah. This new revelation focuses on the consummation of that day, it's climactic final catastrophe in a fire bath as it had a flood bath in Noah's day. This day is the final event of time when death, sin, and hell are fully conquered, and Christ surrenders the Kingdom to his Father.
What bearing should all of this, after 2000 years of waiting, have on our thoughts about the Lord's coming? Should we abandon hope – never! His coming is now 2000 years nearer than it was.
The coming judgments of the day of the Lord furnish ample reasons for godly living. We need to remember that all things that need to be removed will be burned up, leaving only those things which do not need to be destroyed. Our piety will be exhibited by a constant anticipation of, and desire for, the arrival of the day of God.
But as we now prepare ourselves to remember and celebrate the first coming of the Lord this Christmas Day, we should also keep ourselves prepared and ready, as the bride waits for her groom, for the Lord’s second coming!
—Larry Gawron