LOOK FORWARD – 14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; 2 Peter 3:14 NKJV
6 …All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. 7 The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the LORD blows on it; surely the people are grass. 8 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever. Isaiah 40:6-8 ESV
What a full week it’s been looking forward to all that is ahead! We talked about expectation of the Lord’s return motivating our present obedience, like it did Abraham and Moses. We talked about the importance of evangelism in last days, knowing that there is a devastating end in store for those who are not in Christ. Finally, we talked about the importance of examining our present lives to ensure that we will be found faithful when He returns.
The last concept we will look at this week is evaluation. Peter ended his second letter saying, “17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand….” The “this” in that line is referring to what he has said about false teachers in the last days. “…knowing this beforehand, take care that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen” (2 Peter 3:17-18 ESV).
May we determine now that we will value God and His word above everything else!
Evaluation means to determine or set the value or worth of something. False teachings will arise and other things will vie for our affection. May we determine now that we will value God and His word above everything else! May we stay mindful of all that He has said about what’s to come. May we not be “carried away” by other influences, may we continue to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord,” and may we desire His glory “both now and to the day of eternity!”
The Word of the Lord is true. “The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” Jesus will come again. Let us look forward to that day!
APPLICATION
– Praise God that His Word is true and that it stands forever. Pray that He would help you to value it above all else. May we always evaluate things through the lens of the Bible, not the Bible through the lens of other things.
– Pray for the Liberty family. Pray that we would not conform to the pattern of this world, but that we would be transformed by the renewing of our minds so that we may discern God’s will (Rom. 12:2). Pray that we as a church would value God and His word above all else.
– Pray for the continual spreading of the Gospel through our church. As other teachings and philosophies arise in the last days, pray that we would be faithful to preach Jesus and His truth no matter what. May we, like those in the early church, consider it a privilege to face persecution for the sake of the Gospel.