Clowns to the left of me

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Peter’s purpose

We all, at some point in our lives try to answer the big question of what is God’s purpose for our lives. We want the answer to the big picture question of, “What is the purpose of life?” and as we search the world religions, our own hearts, society, we come to only one of two conclusions. There is no purpose for our life.
Isaiah 22:13 NASB95
13 Instead, there is gaiety and gladness, Killing of cattle and slaughtering of sheep, Eating of meat and drinking of wine: “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we may die.”
Or
To know and be known by God.
Love God and love our neighbor as ourself.
But then we want to know God’s specific purpose for our lives.
We want to know the destination, so we can choose the path that we want to take to get there.
God, on the other hand, gives us the direction he wants us to follow and says, “Trust me.”
What is God’s purpose for my life today?
Peter shares God’s purpose for his life at that moment in the first two verses of .
2 Peter 3:1–2 NASB95
1 This is now, beloved, the second letter I am writing to you in which I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, 2 that you should remember the words spoken beforehand by the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior spoken by your apostles.
2 Peter
Remember : keep in the for-front of your mind what you have been taught by the prophets and the Jesus through the apostles. What is written in the Old and New Testament.
He is doing this, remember, because he said that he wasn’t going to be around for much longer. There is an urgency in what he is saying, because Peter doesn’t want anyone to stumble. He has learned to love people as Christ loves them.
Let’s look at what he says in the next few verses and remember and respond to what the Holy Spirit says to us through him.
2 Peter 3:3–9 NASB95
3 Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.” 5 For when they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water. 7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. 9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

We are in the last days

When I say that, be sure, I am not saying when Christ is returning. I don’t know. Adrian Rogers, long time pastor of Belview Baptist Church. A man that dedicated his life to preaching the Word, believed that Christ would come back in his lifetime. He was wrong.
Matthew 24:36 NASB95
36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
Mark 13:32 NASB95
32 “But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone.
So if we don’t know when Christ will return, how can we say we are in the last days?
Romans 13:
Romans 13:12 NASB95
12 The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.
Hebrews 10:24–25 NASB95
24 and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, 25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.
Acts 17:30 NASB95
30 “Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent,
1 Peter 4:7 NASB95
7 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.
James 5:8 NASB95
8 You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.
There is nothing that has to happen in history for Christ to return.

There will be trouble in the last days

2 Timothy 3:1 NASB95
1 But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come.
Mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts.
Jude 18 NASB95
18 that they were saying to you, “In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts.”
Jude 8 NASB95
8 Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties.
Abortion
Same sex marriage
Pornography
Sex Trafficing
Murder
Hitler 25 Mil.
Stalin 40 Mil.
Mou Zedong 50-75 mil.
“Where is the promise of His coming? “
Where is your God?
2 Peter 3:7 NASB95
7 But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
Leaves us as believers asking the question, God, how long will you let them mock you? How long must we endure?

God’s timing

1 Peter
2 Peter 3:8 NASB95
8 But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.
Christ ascended on Friday, what have you done to prepare for his return?
Is today the day?

God’s purpose

2 Peter 3:9 NASB95
9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
Abraham/ Sodom
50?
45?
40?
30?
20?
10?
God wants that number to be zero.
So what should we do?
2 Peter 3:11 NASB95
11 Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
This world is going to be burned up, so what do we do?
2 Peter 3:17–18 NASB95
17 You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of unprincipled men and fall from your own steadfastness, 18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
2 Peter
Be on your guard.
Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord.
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