2 Peter 3:8-15a 8 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. 9 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. 10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be destroyed with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.
11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and destroyed and the elements will melt with fire? 13 But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. 14 Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish, 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,
Title: When Times Get Tough
Date: December 15, 2023
Author: Jackson Ringley
Whenever the New Testament takes a little extra time to explain certain topics, it’s a pretty good indicator that early Christ followers couldn’t make sense of a key detail in the Jesus story. In 2 Peter, we catch a glimpse of the problem of waiting for Jesus to return. Those who walked alongside Jesus and heard the good news about him had grown impatient in his absence. They didn’t understand why, after all the time they’d spent with him, he hadn’t come back to establish his kin-dom here on earth. They had found immense hope in Jesus’ return, yet, for some reason, he just wasn’t there.
I can only imagine how upsetting this must’ve been for them, but the author of 2 Peter saw their discontent and offered words of comfort: “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” (3:9). This is a letter of hope.
Sometimes, texts like 2 Peter can be frightening to read. They contain harsh language and visions of destruction, but they were never intended to scare. They were written for people who were struggling – with their faith, with their society, with one another. For those frustrated while waiting for Jesus’ absence, 2 Peter essentially says, “Hey. I know this is difficult. But God’s promise is for a new creation.” These are words of hope for the hurting, even if they seem strange to us.
11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and destroyed and the elements will melt with fire? 13 But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home. 14 Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish, 15 and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,
Title: When Times Get Tough
Date: December 15, 2023
Author: Jackson Ringley
Whenever the New Testament takes a little extra time to explain certain topics, it’s a pretty good indicator that early Christ followers couldn’t make sense of a key detail in the Jesus story. In 2 Peter, we catch a glimpse of the problem of waiting for Jesus to return. Those who walked alongside Jesus and heard the good news about him had grown impatient in his absence. They didn’t understand why, after all the time they’d spent with him, he hadn’t come back to establish his kin-dom here on earth. They had found immense hope in Jesus’ return, yet, for some reason, he just wasn’t there.
I can only imagine how upsetting this must’ve been for them, but the author of 2 Peter saw their discontent and offered words of comfort: “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” (3:9). This is a letter of hope.
Sometimes, texts like 2 Peter can be frightening to read. They contain harsh language and visions of destruction, but they were never intended to scare. They were written for people who were struggling – with their faith, with their society, with one another. For those frustrated while waiting for Jesus’ absence, 2 Peter essentially says, “Hey. I know this is difficult. But God’s promise is for a new creation.” These are words of hope for the hurting, even if they seem strange to us.
Jackson Ringley is a graduate student at Yale Divinity School and the Director of Social Media for Youth Mission Co. He is active with Montreat Youth Conference and Montreat College Conference and enjoys helping young people find their own voice in the Church and world. Jackson holds a BA in English and Global Studies from the University of South Carolina and has a deep passion for queer writing, global literature, and storytelling as a means for social transformation. You can probably find him watching Abbot Elementary, dancing to Taylor Swift, or enjoying a good cup of coffee.
