Will Love Draw You?

© 2017 by Tom Boynton (editing by Kathy Boynton)

The apostle Peter loved the Lord Jesus.  Nevertheless, through fear, he denied Jesus right before He was crucified to bear the sins of His people.  After rising from the dead, Jesus lovingly approached Peter to restore him.  He gave him the wonderful ministry to “feed my sheep” (John 21:15-17).  Deeply aware of Christ’s love for him, Peter obediently shared this love in two letters he wrote to Christians scattered in various places (1 Peter 1:1).  Referring to them as “beloved,” he warns of scoffers.

“This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up your pure minds by way of remembrance:  That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:  Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,  And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.” (2 Peter 3:1-4)

Though written in love, this letter contains serious warnings.  Peter reminds Christians that these scoffers have intentionally ignored the worldwide flood of Noah’s day.

“For this they willingly are ignorant of, that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of the water and in the water:  Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished:” (2 Peter 3:5-6)

God  had  done  this   because   of   the   great   wickedness   of   mankind   in   the   earth (Genesis 6:5-7). He saved only Noah and his family (Genesis 6:8-8:22).  Peter then explains that there is yet another judgment coming, which will once again destroy ungodly men (2 Peter 3:7).

“But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” (2 Peter 3:10)

God the Son, Jesus Christ, proved by the flood, that He will judge wicked men.  His death and resurrection also prove His saving love to all who repent and ask Him for forgiveness.

Which are you heeding:  Scoffers, or warnings motivated by love?

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