Look to Christ, and Christ Alone
12/1 Reading Portions: 1 Chronicles 29; 2 Peter 3; Micah 6; Luke 15
Online Bible Audio/Readings Links (ESV)
12/1 Reading Portions: 1 Chronicles 29; 2 Peter 3; Micah 6; Luke 15
2 Peter 3:8
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
RETURN
Earlier in the chapter, Peter alludes to scoffers who deny the return of Jesus, and its accompanying judgment (2 Pet 3:3-7). Immediately following, he gives this warning to beloved believers in Christ— the seeming delay isn’t a delay. God is eternal and there is no time with Him. Christ Jesus is eternal God, the second Person of the Trinity, and time is irrelevant to His return and His plans and purposes thereof. It should be interesting to note that in our verse today, in the original Greek Peter mentions that for the Lord Jesus, one single day, μία ἡμέρα (MEE-a hā-MER-a), is like a thousand years, χίλια ἔτη (KHIL-ee-a ET-ā). Now, if I haven’t misunderstood my Greek tutors and Greek-speaking friends, a number without a definite article or without a number in front of it can only mean one of two things— either the sentence is non-sensical (which would seem rather foolish if the Holy Spirit is speaking through the apostle), or it is allegorical to reference a timelessness. The latter is more likely, as Peter is more than likely referencing the Hebrew Scriptures:
For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night. Psalm 90:4
It’s clear from the very first verse of this “Psalm of Moses” that Elohiym God is eternal and outside of time.
These days, this warning should be heeded by all, but especially the church in America. There are those today who are looking to Israel, or looking to signs, or looking to certain political events, or even natural disasters. While there may certainly be a correlation between those things and what Christ Jesus has Himself described as things preceding His coming (Matt 24:3-35), we should keep in mind that He also said this:
“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” Matthew 24:36
Just like signs on the road while we’re driving, we catch them in the corner of our eyes to instruct us as we drive, but we mustn’t stare ogle or give all attention to those sign. We need to keep our eyes on the road else we will certainly crash. Likewise, we must keep our eyes upon Jesus Christ, and upon Him alone. When our eyes are on Christ, we’ll see Him when He comes.
But our verse today is not merely a warning, it is a statement of hope and encouragement. As the Lord Jesus fulfilled redemption by His first coming, He will come again as promised to fulfill all righteousness in judgment— to the praise of His glorious grace for the redeemed, and to the praise of His holy justice for those who have rejected Him.
Finally, there is a reason for His seeming delay in returning, why it is unknown to us as to its timing. This is by God’s sovereign design so that we may trust in Christ Jesus, and in Him alone, rather than lean upon our own futile calculations, attempted prognostications, and finite understandings (Prov 3:5-6). Hallelujah! What a Savior!