8. READ: 2 PETER 3:1-15
[2 Peter 3:1] "Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. [2] I want you to recall the Words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
[3] "First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. [4] They will say, ‘Where is this "coming" He promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.' [5] But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's Word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. [6] By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. [7] By the same Word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
[8] "But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. [9] The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
[10] "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare [some manuscripts say "be burned up"].
[11] "Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives [12] as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming [or "as you wait eagerly for the day of God to come"]. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. [13] But in keeping with His promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.
[14] "So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him. [15] Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him."
a. What does the Lord NOT want to happen to anyone?
b. What does the Lord want everyone to do?
c. What kind of lives should we live?
