“Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming. Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat. But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.”
Verse 11 is the continuation of verse 10. To know what the “…all things are to be dissolved in this way…” are, let’s review verse 10. “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief: on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed.”
Peter goes on to say, “… it is clear what sort of people you should be in holy conduct and godliness as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming.” Peter’s first letter was all about holy living. One of Peter’s key points was this. “But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct; for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy” (1 Peter 1:15-16). He is also returning to the points he made at the beginning of this letter. “Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you” (2 Peter 1:10-11).
Peter has spent considerable time talking about the day of the Lord, Jesus’ second coming. But in this verse, he returns to the present and how his readers are to live their lives. They are to be in holy conduct and godliness as they wait. We are to be ready at any time for Christ’s return. Remember the parables that Jesus told about being prepared for his return. “You are to be like people waiting for their master to return from the wedding banquet so that when he comes and knocks, they can open the door for him at once” (Luke 12:36).
The part of the verse that fascinates me is where Peter says “…as you wait for the day of God and hasten its coming.” What does this mean? Does our behavior speed up Christ’s return? John Barry writes, “How do believers hasten it? The godly lives of the Lord’s people, their praying, and their witnessing help bring others to repentance.” We read in verse 9 that “The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.”
Peter repeats in verse 12 what he wrote in verse 10 About the heavens and earth burning. “Because of that day, the heavens will be dissolved with fire and the elements will melt with heat…” We saw the verses from Isaiah and Micah where the Old Testament prophets wrote about the future day of the Lord in my last blog post.
Thankfully, Peter continues. “But based on his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth where righteousness dwells.” We are to live our lives in holy conduct and godliness now because we are waiting for the new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells. Kenneth Gangel writes, “The old cosmic system will then give way to a new heaven and a new earth and this is what believers are looking forward to, not the earth’s destruction. The new heaven and new earth, given by the promise of God, will finally be the home or dwelling place of righteousness… It will be the home of righteousness because the Righteous One will be there (Jer. 23:5-7; 33:16; Dan. 9:24; Rev. 21:1, 8, 27). What a contrast this will be to the world’s unrighteousness!”
Isaiah wrote about the destruction of the heavens and earth by fire. He also wrote about the new heavens and earth. “For I will create new heavens and a new earth; the past events will not be remembered or come to mind” (65:17). And “’For just as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, will remain before me’—this is the Lord’s declaration—’so your offspring and your name will remain’” (66:22).
As believers, we look forward to that glorious day of the Lord. I will leave you with these verses from Revelation 21:1-4.
“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.
Then I heard a loud voice from the throne: Look, God’s dwelling is with humanity, and he will live with them. They will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them and will be their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; grief, crying, and pain will be no more, because the previous things have passed away.”
Grace be with you!
Abundant Joy 