A New World Coming

How would you evaluate life in today’s broken world? Are you optimistic or pessimistic? Often, a person’s response reflects their current reality. Secular media inundates us with images and narratives that scream depravity, despair, and death. This reflects our fallen world.

Is the world’s current reality of conflict, confusion, and chaos cause for concern? Yes, but as Christ followers, we must aspire to a future perspective unfazed by our current reality — from the perspective of God’s promise of a better world.

Peter’s second letter exudes optimism. Patience, perseverance, and promise provide a new perspective for our enduring patience and God’s everlasting promise that our current world reality is only temporary. Peter assures us that God is sovereign and God’s plan is on schedule, regardless of personal circumstances or what secular skeptics and media declare.

With God’s sovereignty assured, Peter encourages us to look forward to the day when we will inhabit a new world. A world restored to its pre-fall majesty and splendor. A world where “righteousness dwells” and reigns.

Do you look forward to a new world coming? I do, but I also realize that Christ followers are not exempt from the adversity of living in a fallen world. Until then, Peter, reiterating the Lord’s counsel, asks us to gird ourselves with patience and perseverance. As we anticipate the imminence of God’s promise, we need to be on guard, watch and pray, and discern the times so we can make every effort to remain spotless, blameless, and inspired for influence.

Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your promise of a better tomorrow — a new world void of sin’s curse. Gird my heart with patience and perseverance. Help me to discern the times and to remain spotless and blameless in your sight. Empower me for influence to reflect Jesus to those in my life’s path. Amen.

Go Deeper — Billy Graham is quoted as saying, “The second coming of Christ will be so revolutionary that it will change every aspect of life on this planet. Christ will reign in righteousness. Disease will be arrested. Death will be modified. War will be abolished. Nature will be changed. Man will live as it was originally intended he should live.” After reading 2 Peter 3:13, do you feel more hopeful than you did?