But, beloved, do not forget this one thing that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  (9) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.  (10)  the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.  (11) Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness.  (12) looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?  (13) Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

The verses today are written by the Apostle Peter.  His message is clear:  There will be a final judgment and Christ’s second coming is certain.  The time of this this Day of God is God’s time – the fulfillment of God’s promises are precisely timed.  Our belief in this day is based on confidence in the word of God in Scripture and we are told this day will be unexpected – it will come like a thief in the night.  Peter is saying the Scriptures are the sufficient,  accurate and authoritative record of the word of God.  He is not seeking to inform the faithful but to instruct them/us in belief and behavior.  To deny the second coming is to deny future hope and future judgment – to deny this makes it easier not to worry about accountability.

Peter explains why the Lord’s return has taken so long –  God is eternal; God has no beginning and no end.  Peter references the Old Testament which tells us in Psalms that to God a thousand years is as one day to man.  Man has no comprehension of this truth.  Man is finite and God is eternal – our days are numbered and His are not.  Time does not limit God.   God’s delay of the final judgment makes possible our salvation and that of others.  It doesn’t matter what man believes, only what God’s proposes.

We are reminded of our responsibilities against this Day of the Lord.  Peter is talking about God’s wrath on sinners and the consequences of corruption.  The faithful must live righteously.  Scripture gives us a road map to discern what is true from what is false teaching and “wisdom” of our times.  Materialism is folly and what is reality is in the Bible.  These thoughts give new, urgent meaning to the words of the Lord’s Prayer:  Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done.