But the day of the Lord will come like a thief; on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise and the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for and earnestly desire the coming of the day of God. 2 Peter 3:10-11 HCSB
I have been the victim of a burglary once and a victim of an attempted burglary once. Neither time did the thieves make an appointment with me to come and take or try to take my stuff. They planned the right time to come. They came once when I was sleeping and once when I was away from home.
I had no idea that someone would be coming to damage my property and steal or try to steal from me. But they knew they were coming, they had it planned out.
Our scripture passage tells us that when Jesus returns, he will come like a thief. We have no idea when He will return. It could be before you finish reading this or years from now. Matthew 24:36 tells us that only God the Father knows when this will be, not even the angels or Jesus know when this will happen.
There are several passages in the Bible that make me think this will happen soon. In Genesis 6, we are told God saw evil and wickedness were so widespread on the earth that He decided to destroy it by flood. The wickedness was so widespread that God’s heart was grieved and he regretted He had made man. But, Noah found favor with the Lord. So, God instructed Noah to build the ark so he and his family and the animals could be saved from the flood.
In Genesis 19, the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah had become so evil and so wicked that the men there wanted to rape two angels who had come into the city. These angels were in the home of Lot and Lot even offered his virgin daughter to the evil men outside to spare the angels. The angels brought Lot inside and struck the evildoers with a blinding light. They instructed Lot to get him and his family out of there. God spared Lot’s family as he destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. They were instructed to leave and not look back. In verse 26, Lot’s wife looked back and became a pillar of salt.
If the behavior of Noah and Sodom and Gomorrah’s times grieved God’s heart just imagine how upset He must be at what’s happening in our world now.
God does not tolerate disobedience. This is what makes me think that perhaps the time of our judgment is near. But one thing I know for sure is none of us know when that time will be. None of us know when we will die and none of us know when the rapture will take place.
In 2 Peter, chapter 3, he talks about the flood and how it destroyed the earth. In verse 7 it says, “But by the same word, the present heavens and earth are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.” He goes on to say in verse 9 that the Lord does not delay His promise, as some of us understand delay, but He is patient not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance. He is giving us time to come to our senses and come to Him.
We know we serve a just God, a God of mercy. But, we also know we serve a jealous God. We serve a God that will not tolerate disobedience. We know God will punish the wicked. We just don’t know when this will all take place.
In verse 14, Peter says, “While you wait for these things, make every effort to be found without a spot or blemish, at peace with Him.” The time for us to turn to God is now. The time for us to enter into a solid relationship with our Lord and Savior is now. Tomorrow may be too late.
If I had known these thieves were coming, I would have done things differently. I would have been prepared. We know Jesus is coming, we just don’t know when. I lived many years as though Jesus would not be coming to judge me.
Our Scripture passage tells us He is coming and even though we don’t know when, we must be ready. Be prepared for that day.
Have a great day!