2 Peter 3 - Be On Your Guard

LINK: 2 Peter 3
  
BACKGROUND

Be on your guard lest, 
being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, 
you fall from your own steadfastness. 

(2 Peter 3:17b)

In this chapter, Peter refreshes the memory of these persecuted believers. The holy prophets spoke of the Day of the Lord (Luke 1:70; Acts 3:21; Ephesians 3:5). Jesus spoke of it and His return (John 14:1-3), and the apostles reinforced it (1 Corinthians 15:23; 2 Corinthians 1:14; Philippians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 4:14-18; Hebrews 9:28; James 5:7). Therefore, these believers were not to let the scoffers (false teachers), who deny Jesus Christ and His return, get to them! 

Why has God waited so long for the day of the Lord? There are two reasons: 

1. God's timetable is not our timetable. 
2. He wants as many people as possible to come into the kingdom in His time frame. 

In the Lord's time, the end times with Jesus' return will be quick (Matthew 24:42-44; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; Revelation 3:3; 16:15). It will be a time of cataclysmic earthly events. 

While they waited for His coming, they were to live pure and blameless lives, at peace with God. Also, they were to be on their guard and steadfast in the truth and not give in to the error of the false teachers. The most significant thing is that God is waiting for those who do not know Him to be saved! He is a merciful God. 

APPLICATION 

• Are you being diligent to grow spiritually as You wait for His coming?
• Are you actively involved in spreading the Good News of the gospel knowing that God wishes no one to perish?
• Do you pray for others to be saved, even the ones you think are the most evil? 

Here is a prayer guide for praying for one of the most brutal people on earth right now: 

30-Day Prayer Guide

2023 Update: While ISIS is a downgraded threat, they are still active. As this article, ISIS is a Problem of Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow, explains. Here is a quote from the article:

As General Kenneth McKenzie, former commander of the U.S. Central Command, put it to a USIP audience in 2020: “The enduring defeat of ISIS has got to incorporate a way forward for the displaced persons and all the people that are at risk across the theater; if not, we are actually never really going to defeat ISIS and the problem is going to come back.” In fact, some of these issues are already present in Iraq and Syria: Thousands of fighters are still at large, more are in prison, while their family members are vulnerable or may present vulnerability, if unaddressed.

We need to keep praying. 

PRAYER

Lord, help us to be alert and steadfast in truth by seeking Your face diligently and learning how to follow You. I pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.