Endurance

(14)  Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless

2 Peter 3:14

Explanation:

In Isaiah 65 we looked at the future hope that we have as people who have been forgiven by God. Yesterday we asked the question “how should we live today in light of the future hope that we have? How shall we then live?” Yesterday we learned that we should live with expectation. When we expect Christ to come back we will respond well.

The second response to the coming hope that we have is the response of endurance.

Notice the word “wherefore”. It speaks to what has previously been said. He says “seeing that ye look for such things” speaks refers to their expectation of Christ’s return and the end to this earth and the beginning of the next. He is saying that since they have an expectation of Christ’s return, their should be a response. What is that response? Endurance. He says “be diligent”. Be intentional. Work hard. Endure. Work hard at what? So that when Christ comes back you may be found “in peace, without spot, and blameless.” We should live in a righteous and holy way when we expect that Christ could come back.

Application:

As a teenager there were times that my parents would leave my brother and I alone at home. They would give us a list of chores to do and tell us that they would be back soon. We knew that if we didn’t get the chores done before they got back we would get in trouble. Too often we would wait late into the day before we started on that list. Too often we would hear the sound of the garage door going up and not have the list done. If we expected our parents to be back in just an hour or so we would be more diligent to get the list done.
It is a simple illustration, but the principle is the same. If you knew that Christ was going to come back sometime today, how would you live today? Who would you speak to about the Gospel? Would you behave the same way you did yesterday? Christ could come back today. Let’s live expectantly. Let’s endure by diligently living every day like we will go to be with Jesus.

Response:

Jesus could come back today. Are you ready to meet him?