Advent
December 4, 2014
Scripture Reading: 2 Peter 3:8-15a
But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed….But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. — 2 Peter 3:8-10, 13
The earth grows dormant now, at least in Oklahoma. Leaves are everywhere but are always on the move because the wind is a constant here on the plains. We have had our first snow and now live through one beautiful day of mild temperatures and bright sunshine and the next a day of fridge cold. Much of the land has been sown with winter wheat that will lay quietly beneath the topsoil until spring rains and rising temperatures signal the wheat’s time of fruition. Make no mistake, much is happening between that seed of wheat and God’s good earth. The cycle of life continues as autumn fads to winter. These verses from Second Peter tell us not to get too complacent in our lives. We need to remember why we are here and what we have been assigned to do.
God wants all of God’s children, to not only succeed, but to thrive, to bear fruit, and to be conduits of God’s own love. God wants this so much that God sent his only Son to dwell with us on earth showing us the way to make God’s plan a reality and when the Son returned to God, the Son asked that we his sisters and brothers in faith continue the work to fulfill God’s desired outcome for the Lord wanted no one to perish.
Yet as the cycle of life continues, all of God’s children are not thriving, all have not experienced abundant life, and, thus, our work is not done. I think Second Peter is suggesting that in our world today “righteousness” would not feel at home even if it were invited in. Our job is to set our world’s home in order, so fill it with love that when “righteousness” arrives, it will recognize our world as its home.
Prayer: Lord, forgive us when we grow complacent. Inspire us to nurture this world you have given us until it and all its people can be at home with righteousness and righteousness can be at home with us. Amen.
All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.