A Constant Christian

2 Peter 3:10-12 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
 
IT is difficult to imagine such sudden, complete change in the world prophesied for the day of God. But we have glimpses of it, don’t we? Fires have raged through forests and towns too fast for people to escape. Floods have come so quickly no one has time to flee to safety. Earthquakes shatter homes and lives. A tsunami suddenly destroys all in its path. These events come as a thief in the night. Without warning all is taken away.
   How do we prepare for the day of God? Do we ignore the warning, believing it will happen beyond our lifetime? Or do we live with anticipation it could be today? Jesus urged us to be ready: Matthew 24:38-39 “For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.”
   Peter urges the church to be prepared for that day by living holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.
   Is there an urgency to your faith? Is walking in step with the Good Shepherd your priority? Are you willing to attend church weekly, participate in church events, learn from the Bible and help others do the same? We don’t need to be “professional Christians” – members of a church staff or ministry – to be constant Christians. All of us have opportunities in the workplace, the marketplace and our neighborhoods to live holy and godly lives. Such lives recognize there is a limited time to make God known. He has given us a new life to be his ambassadors to the world that will one day be destroyed and made new.
   That was the prophets’ and Jesus’ mission. God set apart the prophets to warn Israel of destruction if they refused to repent and to promise blessing if they obeyed God. Jesus has warned of the earth’s destruction and judgment on those who do not repent. He promised salvation to  the faithful. God has fulfilled the prophecies on Israel. He will complete his prophecy for the world on the day God.
   Believe the Lord’s Word. Be a constant Christian. Be prepared for the new heaven and earth. Help others be prepared.