Recently, while my husband and I were on vacation, we stopped in our favorite coffee shop to gather our yummy drinks and a delicious treats. The next step was the perfect place… as we scanned the tables and chairs for a place to sit down. “It must meet all our needs I thought…comfy chairs, plenty of outlets for all our devices, away from too much noise, a window would be nice”… as we continued to scout out the perfect area, our ears became tuned to a warning that reminded me of the words of Apostle Peter. “One Day is as a Thousand Years.”
Deeds of Peter
This Apostle Peter, the very one who dared to step out of the boat to meet Jesus by walking on water, the very one who cut Malchus ear completely off when the Roman soldiers came to get Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, the very one who accompanies Jesus along with James and John on the mount of transfiguration, and the very one who declares before his fellow disciples and speaks directly to Jesus, saying “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
This Peter is the same one that years later grew spiritually to be even a more profound teacher. Devoted now to teaching, training and equipping others to grow in Christ, Peter appeals to his audience mentioning his first hand experience on the mount of transfiguration as evident of his authenticity.
Perfect Table and Ears echoing Warning
My ears and those of my husbands were made aware with a great visual of flashing light and thundering of a earth shaken, the immense clarity that even though one may be on vacation, many many miles from work, enjoying a great time, relaxed, not a care in the world, …it is of great need to beware…to be on guard…
As we found our perfect table…I looked up and it was quick to observe that just tables over there were two people telling another two people complete fallacy of the truth. As we passed by, the words from the false teacher’s lips leaped out across the air waves pricking my heart, which provoked me to begin quick deep prayers for the two that were listening.
II Peter
In the New Testament, Apostle Peter wrote two letters. In the second letter, Peter writes to those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, and even though this epistle was written around 65 AD, it applies to us, right now, this very day, to all who believe and those who begin to believe in Christ as Lord this day.
The core focus of Peter’s 2nd letter was just that, to BEWARE…be on GUARD… for there are those (and will be those) who come and pervert the sound doctrine of Christ, twisting it and leading others astray and away from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Peter reminds those that hear and read his letter by “stirring up your pure minds by way of reminder. To be mindful of the words spoken before from the Holy prophets (in the Old Testament) as well as the commandments of the apostles of the Lord and Savior.” Peter challenges the readers not to forget that the Lord is coming again. Jesus is not slack in His soon return…but with longsuffering, lingering, not willing that any should perish but instead that all should come to repentance, He is waiting for that appointed time that no one knows the day or the hour.
So because we do not know the day or the hour…the scripture text implies that our focus is not the time frame of when Jesus will come again but however the action of following with obedience to stay clear of those teaching falsely becomes the content of our fixed gaze. Our job is to guard ourselves from false teachers and prophets and protect ourselves and others who would be led astray.
Beware of False Teachers
There are two main areas Apostle Peter centers on, which is the same that continues in the same theological thread that is found in every book of the New Testament and even in the Old Testament. The first one of Peter’s passion is the meshing of His heart with God’s heart and forever common goal and reconciling the people in the world back to God through salvation by faith in believing in Christ Jesus and Lord.
The second passion is to make sure that those who believe in Christ are not lead astray by false teachers, and prophets who are speaking contrary to the Bible. Peter gives his audience the dangers of listening to false teachers because of the severe spiritual destruction that they cause. Peter also gives descriptions of how they false teachers act and how we can discern them. As Peter quotes Moses in Old Testament, he reminds us that even though
“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. You return man to dust and say, “Return, O children of man!” For a thousand years in your sight are but as yesterday when it is past, or as a watch in the night.” Psalm 90: 1-4
Peter continues to encourage the reader my fast forwarding them to the day of Jesus’ coming again. During that time, THIS time frame, there will be mockery against Christ and Who He is and Who He represents. Peter concludes this letter with the manifestation of the Day of the Lord being something that is coming and those who are mature in view of the day of the Lord is urged to prepare. Prepare by having a manner of holy conduct and godliness…and to beware that you are not carried away with the error of lawless people and lose your own stability.
My prayer for you this 2015 New Year, is that you make yourselves disciplined…having strong resolutions of highest priority of guarding yourself from false teachers and prophets that do not speak the truth of God’s word written in the Bible.
©Copyright 2014 Simone Lake. All Rights Reserved.
© Copyright 2014 Deep Roots in Christ Ministries. All Rights Reserved
