A New Home

Christians are looking for a new home.

March 25, 2020

"Nevertheless we, according to His purpose, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless."

2 Peter 3:13-14

“Nevertheless we, according to his promise.”
God has given to his child many beautiful promises in His Word.

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4).

These things came true as we were born into God’s family.  In the context here, he is speaking of a different promise.  When Jesus was with his disciples during his last Passover with them, he promised them a new home with Him, which he was going to prepare.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3).

But here in our verse for today, Peter is speaking to more than just their eternal dwelling.

“Look for new heavens and a new earth.”
The disciples and believers today are looking for God’s re-creation of His original creation.  Here is what God promised,

“For, behold, I create new heavens and a new earth: and the former shall not be remembered, nor come into mind” (Isaiah 65:17).

“For as the new heavens and the new earth, which I will make, shall remain before me, saith the LORD, so shall your seed and your name remain” (Isaiah 66:22).

In the context of Isaiah, Israel’s land will be restored to her, and she shall see the renewed glory of Jerusalem.  “The same hope shows itself in the visions of the apocalypse….”[1]

“And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea.  And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:1-2).

“Wherein dwelleth righteousness.”
In God’s new creation, there will be no sin, only righteousness.  What a change from this present earth!  No wonder only true believers will make it into this eternal state.

“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things.”
If we believers are genuinely looking for such an incredible change in eternity, how then should we be living today?  Shouldn’t the prospects of our future in righteousness have an effect on how we live now in this sinful world?

“Be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.”
Our striving to be godly should be completed with great diligence.  We must live in peace with our brothers and sisters and strive for peace with the lost (which they will not allow).  We must try hard for a testimony that is “without spot” and “blameless.”

“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat (2 Peter 3:11-12)?

 

 

 

[1] Cambridge Bible, the electronic version in eSword.