The Valley of the Shadow of Death Part 3 of 5
The Valley of the Shadow of Death Part 3 of 5
What then are we to think? Why does Father allow the world to continue? It seems that nothing has changed since the days of Sodom and Gomorrah. Peter supplies the answer.
8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Father has not changed. Despite the continued rebellion of many, He still loves them. Before the world existed, He planned to demonstrate His love through His Son Jesus. We read in John 3:16–17 (KJV 1900) that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” And that “God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” In Romans 5:8 (KJV 1900) we find, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Even so, Father does not bully people. He does not override their will. He does not force anyone to accept His gracious gift. None of that is possible for Him because it would be unloving and He is love. ( see 1 John 4:8 & 16)
There will come a day when Jesus returns. In verse ten of our text, Peter provides us some insight into that great day.
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
The idea of Jesus coming at any moment used to instill fear in me. I was worried that He would show up right after I had done some terrible thing or thought some terrible thought or had some terrible motive in my heart and that I would be lost. Those fears were completely unfounded. Paul makes that very clear in 1 Thessalonians 5:1–5 (KJV 1900) “1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” Paul reminds us that we are children of the day and that for this reason we will not be caught off guard when Jesus returns.
As believers we are aware that Jesus will return, and we await that great day eagerly. It is the day when we will be forever with Him and when sin and death will no longer be a part of our environment. We want it to come as soon as possible.
Given this wonderful truth, we do not need to become engrossed in or worried by the things going on around us in this fallen world. Instead, we can remember what we find in 2 Corinthians 5:18–21 (KJV 1900) “…all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”
We can, like our Father, be concerned that as many as possible be saved. When people ask us the reason for the hope we have, we can tell them about the wonderful gift that Jesus has given them. (see 1 Peter 3:15) This does not consist of us berating people or pushing scripture down their throats. It simply consists of us doing what grace teaches us to do living upright and godly lives as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death. (see Titus 2:11-12) People notice that and opportunities to simply share what Jesus has done for us present themselves. That is what Peter tells us next.
