2 Peter 3:4,9-They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.”…9 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.
With our oldest child turning fifteen tomorrow, it made me think of when I was his age and suddenly became very ill. I remember the doctor telling my mother they think I have leukemia. I’ll never forget that week of going to the hospital everyday after school, and realizing how fleeting life can be at any age…
Thankfully they ruled out leukemia, which had me sincerely concerned that I was going to die because I felt like it, but ever since I’ve haven’t had an episode like that. Even after that, not being a Christian at the time I had an indifference in my heart about life, rather than a reverence for it…
Though we may be surrounded by mortality in the media, until it happens to people we love or we face it to some degree ourselves, we may presume we are an exception to death, which is a naive way to live. However in Christ it shouldn’t paralyze us in fear, but actually make us more bold to live by faith while on earth!
So if there can be a naivety to death though it’s happening all around us, certainly there can be a naivety or ignorance to Christ returning suddenly in judgement. What reveals our naivety to Christ coming back, is by “presuming” on His kindness and grace to live however we want, deluded that we are on our own time, and not God’s to repent or live in His direction. (Romans 2:4-5)
As much as no one desires to think of terrible things happening because it fosters a lot of anxiety and fear. The freedom we have in striving after Christ, is that we don’t have to fear death in preparation for His return. To live presumptuous is to miss opportunities that we think will always be there, it’s really an illusion of control. Whereas faith lives affirming God’s conviction to act now, that whatever happens we have a refuge in Him, even in death. (Hebrews 11:1, 1 Corinthians 15:55-58)
The world thinks everything will continue as it always has, but Christians should know life is fleeting and judgment is coming. Fight the arrogance and fear to presume you can put off what you know to do…(James 4:14-17)
In His Love, Ld
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