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Thinking Historically and Christianly

2 Peter 3:3-7
Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, ‘Where is this “coming” he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.’ But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. (NIVUK)

Although the modern world is supposed to be a tolerant place, Peter is quite direct: scoffers will come (John 15:18-19).  It is all related to the nature of the Christian faith.  Unlike the religionists of his day (and ours) Christians are unique in having a personal relationship with God through King Jesus, who has authority over everything and everybody.  But human nature wants to ignore God's right to rule and those who do so are liable to mock anybody who accepts the authority of Jesus in their life.

Two key doctrinal errors are: believing that this life is all there is, and that there is no judgement in the next life.  That enables a ‘liberated’ lifestyle to be apparently conscience-free and self-indulgent.  Most people give no thought at all to the return of Jesus Christ, and the ensuing judgement. They assume that there will be no day of reckoning because they cannot see any evidence that God does that sort of thing: therefore they follow their own desires assuming there is no risk of having to account for their actions (Romans 14:12).  But the evidence of God's judgement does exist.

The historicity of Noah and the flood was confirmed by Jesus.  “As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.” (Matthew 24:37-39)  Jesus spoke about a real event in the past which pointed forward to another real event in the future.  Noah's flood is the Bible's account of God's holy wrath in action. Although the story was well known, people of His day chose to forget that it was all about judgement.  But God did not give Noah a huge boat building project just so that we might have a sentimental account about wildlife rescue!  God is holy and has given us a powerful example of what happens to unbelieving scoffers who refuse to be saved - they are overwhelmed by the consequences of their own disobedient desires.
 
In Noah's day, the long period of ark-building gave plenty of opportunity for the scoffers to repent.  But they ignored Noah's message (2 Peter 2:5) and had no excuse.  In the same way, rejecting the gospel and mocking its messengers does not remove the certainty of judgement; it actually validates it.  God has already appointed both the day of judgement and the judge (Acts 17:31).  This has serious implications for the scoffers.  They need to wake up to history before they become history.  The mockers need to be saved.  The people who mistreat you are in eternal danger.  Pray for them and be willing to gently present the answers they need (1 Peter 3:15-16).  And pray for yourself to recover a holy fear which courageously seeks the salvation of the lost.

Prayer 
Dear Lord. Although it troubles me when friends or colleagues mock me because I believe in You, help me to see that they are literally 'playing with fire'. Forgive me for being more concerned about the hurt they inflict on me than that they need to be saved, as their scoffing is evidence that they cannot see the seriousness of what they are doing. Please enable me to bear the load of ridicule, and also to pray for those who are in such peril. In Jesus' Name. Amen.
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