One Day Is Like A Thousand Years

First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts and saying, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!” They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago and an earth was formed out of water and by means of water, through which the world of that time was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been reserved for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the godless.

But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.

Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.

2 Peter 3:3-15

On March 20, 1980 Mount St. Helens in Washington, a supposedly dormant volcano, began to quake and rumble. The local population was evacuated to a “safe” area eight miles away. Later, the side of the mountain began to bulge, but still no one was really concerned because past research on volcanoes indicated they never blew sideways. Then on May 18, the side of Mount St. Helens exploded, shooting tons of debris down the hill at the rate of 150 miles and hour. A minute later, the volcano exploded upward with the equivalent power of 500 atomic bombs. Two hundred thirty square miles of forest were devastated and 57 people lost their lives. Scientists had assumed that natural events would continue as before. They were wrong.

We are told of a new heaven and a new earth. God is already working patiently so that more people will find safety with Him through His own Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. People only need to accept the salvation He offers.

God’s people must point the way if others are to escape God’s judgment.

Our Daily Bread – May 9, 2006