Well, application, yeah. Colorado Christian University has these ID cards that they use for just about everything. If you want to eat, you need your card. If you want to have your attendance count, you need your card. To attend chapel, you need your card. What is next, using the card to get in and out of apartments? I saw that at the University of Idaho. All I am saying is that if being tracked like this is okay in a Christian university…we need to calm down a little or be concerned that so many students have taken ‘the mark.’
Actually, that has nothing to do with my application. I just thought it was ironic.
Last year my pastor at The Crossing did a series of talks on Revelation 1-3. Therefore most of his talks were on the letters to the churches.
Ephesus: recognized for its works and endurance but had lost its First Love.
Apply to my own life. Apply to your life.
Symrna: recognized in its suffering and encouraged to remain faithful.
Apply to my own life. Apply to your life.
Pergamum: recognized for faithfulness to the Name and told to repent, listen to the Spirit, and conquer.
Apply to my life. Apply to your life.
Thyatira: recognized for faith, love, service, and patient endurance and promises reward to those who conquer.
Apply to my life. Apply to your life.
*skipping Sardis for now…will come back, I promise
Philadelphia: recognized for faithful endurance and encouraged to continue with the promise of being saved.
Apply to my life. Apply to your life.
Laodicea: the lukewarm church that God will spit out of His mouth if they remain in the middle.
Apply to my life…I wish that this one was easy to change. Too often I find that I want to be acceptable in both places…in man’s eyes and in God’s eyes. How is that even possible? Why do I try to justify what I do for humans? One lesson that I learned this year was this one. I hope I can do better in the future. You see, I was trying to get a good grade. A good grade would be approval in the teacher’s eyes and the university’s eyes. How in God’s eyes though? Thankfully I got a C on that assignment. It could have been worse. At that moment I realized my fault in wanting approval from humans. I stopped doing assignments for the instructors. Overall, most of my assignments were done for God; especially those for my two Bible and two Literature classes. Unfortunately, my philosophy class is another issue.
Sardis: recognizes that works are being seen but says that it is dead. Sardis is told to wake up. This has been my theme idea that God has continuously reminded me of all semester long. Actually, this goes back for about a year now.
I see God moving in Colorado Christian University’s campus! He has worked within people and I know that He is about to do more! I look forward to everything that He has for us next semester and onward!
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Revelation Blog 1
Traditionally, the author of Revelation has been given to John the Evangelist who wrote from Patmos in the 90s AD (Tafoya). Craig S. Keener says, however, that scholars today argue about the authorship because it does not seem likely that the possible author of John and the author of Revelation could be the same author, but at the same time the vocabulary of Revelation is very similar to that of John (757). Keener also states “that one writer would use the same vocabulary but write entirely different kinds of works from different perspectives seems more probable…than that two allied writers would differ in perspectives buy share vocabulary” (758). Keener also states that Revelation could have been written as early as the late 60s AD but overall supports the 90s AD date (758). M. Eugene Boring states this about the authorship of Revelation, “the author makes no claim to be an apostle or personal disciple of the historical Jesus; rather he distinguishes himself from the ‘twelve apostles,’ referring to himself simply as ‘John’ and as a ‘brother’—that is, a fellow Christian, a servant/slave—of Christ who writes prophecy” (2211).
Revelation is an occasional epistle, but mostly it fits into apocalyptic literature. The framework is that of a pastoral letter (Boring 2211) written to the seven churches: Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Smyrna, Philadelphia, Ephesus, and Laodicea. The seven churches could mean all churches (Tafoya). The purpose of Revelation was to reveal what was really going on beyond Domitian’s rule. It is a pulling back of the curtain (Tafoya). Keener adds the word ‘prophetic’ to its genre (758). The sequence of John is in logical sequence rather than chronological sequence (Keener 759). The theme of Revelation is that God is the Alpha and Omega, Christ is the Lamb who was slain, and the sovereignty of God (Tafoya). Other themes of the book include tribulation(s) and justice (Tafoya).
Craig S. Keener gave ways of interpreting Revelation which are:
1) Revelation predicts in detail the course of human history till the Second Coming.
2) Revelation reflects the general principles of history.
3) Revelation addresses only what was happening in John’s day.
4) Revelation addresses only the end time.
5) Combinations of the above approaches.
These can be found on page 760 of the work cited below.
My favorite verse in the Bible is, “for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17
I think it was my second time that I had read the Bible all the way through when I determined that of all the verses that I had read, this was the one that would be called favorite. Because it is in Revelation, I do know that I picked it out in December simply from the fact that in a Bible plan, Revelation is always read at the end and I had started on January 1st.
The reason that this verse struck me so hard was because there was so much going on in my life during that time. I was dealing with family issues, school stuff, and friend problems. The only friend who never hurt me during that year was Christ. I shed a lot of tears and I told God that I accepted His promise here “God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” The most important word in this verse is God. Who will wipe away tears? God Himself. Not an angel or a cool human or whatever. No, God will.
This semester, likewise, has been difficult. Last year I went to the University of Idaho and lived at home with my parents and brothers. I went to a church that I fell in love with. The pastor is a man whom I have listened to since I was in seventh grade. I have friends there that I have known for years and we have grown close. Colorado had very little. I have an aunt here that I barely know. Thank God for her, I have a home away from Idaho because of her. There was nobody at this university and I had many fears.
After a full spring semester of praying to God for direction, God told me Colorado was where He wanted me. During the semester I questioned that a little bit. Yet even while going through various things, I knew that everything that I was going through would make no sense if God was not in it. But even in that realization everything got harder and I know that I resisted what God was trying to do for a long time. God is faithful. He has proven to be so and that means that He will one day fulfill this promise that He made in Revelation 7:17.
WORKS CITED
Books:
Boring, M. Eugene. “The Revelation to John.” Pages 2211-2213 in The New Interpreter’s Study Bible with the Apocrypha. Edited by Walter J. Harrelson et al. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003.
Keener, Craig S. “Revelation,” Pages 747-821 in The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
Class Lecture:
Tafoya, Stace. “Intro to Revelation.” Bible 114 Early Christian Literature. Colorado Christian University. 8 and 10 Dec 2008.
Revelation is an occasional epistle, but mostly it fits into apocalyptic literature. The framework is that of a pastoral letter (Boring 2211) written to the seven churches: Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Smyrna, Philadelphia, Ephesus, and Laodicea. The seven churches could mean all churches (Tafoya). The purpose of Revelation was to reveal what was really going on beyond Domitian’s rule. It is a pulling back of the curtain (Tafoya). Keener adds the word ‘prophetic’ to its genre (758). The sequence of John is in logical sequence rather than chronological sequence (Keener 759). The theme of Revelation is that God is the Alpha and Omega, Christ is the Lamb who was slain, and the sovereignty of God (Tafoya). Other themes of the book include tribulation(s) and justice (Tafoya).
Craig S. Keener gave ways of interpreting Revelation which are:
1) Revelation predicts in detail the course of human history till the Second Coming.
2) Revelation reflects the general principles of history.
3) Revelation addresses only what was happening in John’s day.
4) Revelation addresses only the end time.
5) Combinations of the above approaches.
These can be found on page 760 of the work cited below.
My favorite verse in the Bible is, “for the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of the water of life, and God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17
I think it was my second time that I had read the Bible all the way through when I determined that of all the verses that I had read, this was the one that would be called favorite. Because it is in Revelation, I do know that I picked it out in December simply from the fact that in a Bible plan, Revelation is always read at the end and I had started on January 1st.
The reason that this verse struck me so hard was because there was so much going on in my life during that time. I was dealing with family issues, school stuff, and friend problems. The only friend who never hurt me during that year was Christ. I shed a lot of tears and I told God that I accepted His promise here “God will wipe every tear from their eyes.” The most important word in this verse is God. Who will wipe away tears? God Himself. Not an angel or a cool human or whatever. No, God will.
This semester, likewise, has been difficult. Last year I went to the University of Idaho and lived at home with my parents and brothers. I went to a church that I fell in love with. The pastor is a man whom I have listened to since I was in seventh grade. I have friends there that I have known for years and we have grown close. Colorado had very little. I have an aunt here that I barely know. Thank God for her, I have a home away from Idaho because of her. There was nobody at this university and I had many fears.
After a full spring semester of praying to God for direction, God told me Colorado was where He wanted me. During the semester I questioned that a little bit. Yet even while going through various things, I knew that everything that I was going through would make no sense if God was not in it. But even in that realization everything got harder and I know that I resisted what God was trying to do for a long time. God is faithful. He has proven to be so and that means that He will one day fulfill this promise that He made in Revelation 7:17.
WORKS CITED
Books:
Boring, M. Eugene. “The Revelation to John.” Pages 2211-2213 in The New Interpreter’s Study Bible with the Apocrypha. Edited by Walter J. Harrelson et al. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003.
Keener, Craig S. “Revelation,” Pages 747-821 in The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
Class Lecture:
Tafoya, Stace. “Intro to Revelation.” Bible 114 Early Christian Literature. Colorado Christian University. 8 and 10 Dec 2008.
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Jude Blog 2
“But you, beloved, build yourselves up on your most holy faith; pray in the Holy Spirit; keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on some who are wavering; save others by snatching them out of the fire; and have mercy on still others with fear, hating even the tunic defiled by their bodies.” Jude 20-23
Pray in the Holy Spirit. I have heard to ask God what He wants us to pray for at certain times. By asking Him if there is somebody or some situation that needs prayer, we are allowing Him to help us pray. Prayer is a strong weapon and God knows who and what needs prayer when. Keep yourselves I the love of God. See previous blogs. Love God, and love others. The Gospel is about God who is love (1 John 4:8). This love includes helping somebody who is questioning the faith. This includes going after them and praying for them.
Right now I have several friends from high school who have since graduation (or shortly before graduation) who have turned away from God. I have prayed for them. I have tried to keep communication open with them so that they know that I want to listen to them. At one point, one of them turned back to the Lord and we all rejoiced. However, distance has separated us and my prayers have continued for her because I think she may have lost the passion for Christ again.
Pray in the Holy Spirit. I have heard to ask God what He wants us to pray for at certain times. By asking Him if there is somebody or some situation that needs prayer, we are allowing Him to help us pray. Prayer is a strong weapon and God knows who and what needs prayer when. Keep yourselves I the love of God. See previous blogs. Love God, and love others. The Gospel is about God who is love (1 John 4:8). This love includes helping somebody who is questioning the faith. This includes going after them and praying for them.
Right now I have several friends from high school who have since graduation (or shortly before graduation) who have turned away from God. I have prayed for them. I have tried to keep communication open with them so that they know that I want to listen to them. At one point, one of them turned back to the Lord and we all rejoiced. However, distance has separated us and my prayers have continued for her because I think she may have lost the passion for Christ again.
Jude Blog 1
This “letter essay” was possible written by Jude, the brother of James and of Jesus. Because the author dose not specify which Jude he is it make it “probable that the letter was genuinely written by Jude. At the same time, his lack of clarifications s to which Jude he is and the fact that he seems to be already known to his readers suggest that he is the most prominent Jude, brother of the most prominent James—the younger brother of Jesus” (Keener 752). Jude is a letter used as a sermon (Keener 753). The letter “exhorts it recipients to remain unwavering in faith and tot lead virtuous lives, while rejecting the immoral lure of false teachers who are preying upon the community” (Senior 2207) with sexually immoral lifestyles and teaching arrogance (Keener 752). The author wants the recipients to remain faithful until the end (Senior 2207).
“Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” Jude 3
One thing that I am learning this month is that faith is something that each person has to fight to keep. I don't mean that somebody is going to come at take it away. Remember that parable of the sower? We need to keep taking in the water and nutrients from the Scriptures and from God in order to keep growing strong. Contend for your faith and for the faith of others around you.
WORKS CITED
Keener, Craig S. “Jude,” Pages 734-746 in The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
Senior, Donald. “The Letter of Jude.” Pages 2195-2196 in The New Interpreter’s Study Bible with the Apocrypha. Edited by Walter J. Harrelson et al. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003.
“Beloved, while eagerly preparing to write to you about the salvation we share, I find it necessary to write and appeal to you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.” Jude 3
One thing that I am learning this month is that faith is something that each person has to fight to keep. I don't mean that somebody is going to come at take it away. Remember that parable of the sower? We need to keep taking in the water and nutrients from the Scriptures and from God in order to keep growing strong. Contend for your faith and for the faith of others around you.
WORKS CITED
Keener, Craig S. “Jude,” Pages 734-746 in The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
Senior, Donald. “The Letter of Jude.” Pages 2195-2196 in The New Interpreter’s Study Bible with the Apocrypha. Edited by Walter J. Harrelson et al. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003.
1, 2, 3 John Blog 2
“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves I born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.” 1 John 4:7-13
“But now, dear lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning, let us love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment just as you have heard it from the beginning –you must walk in it.” 2 John 5-6
“Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but imitate what is good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.” 3 John 11
To accept God's love and love Him back means that we well love each other. If we do not love each other, how can we say that we love God. If you love somebody you love their work and we all are created in God's image by God. Therefore we cannot just not love each other because then we are insulting God. This is especially true because God loved us before we loved Him. We deserve nothing from Him yet He has given so much. And how do we tend to repay Him? We do not love others...ouch.
There is this girl who I have a really hard time getting along with. Honestly, I do not understand what went wrong, but it is very obvious that she does not like me. Yet I am supposed to love her? Yep. I have been trying to deal with frustrations at her all semester and it is not easy. I have tried smiling at her and saying 'hi' when I pass her. I have also tried ignoring her when I see her and avoiding her when I can. Nothing is working. As I read through these verses, I thought of her.
“What am I supposed to do, God?” I asked. He said that I could try praying for her and praying for encounters with her.
Honestly, I don't like that answer. She has said somethings to me that have hurt me. But that has always been God's answer when I have a problem with people who I don't get along with who have hurt me. Pray for them. And it really has worked when I have listened. Prayer puts your mind on God and His heart. If His heart radically beats with love for that person you don't like and you are praying for them, it really is hard to keep not liking them.
“But now, dear lady, I ask you, not as though I were writing you a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning, let us love one another. And this is love, that we walk according to his commandments; this is the commandment just as you have heard it from the beginning –you must walk in it.” 2 John 5-6
“Beloved, do not imitate what is evil but imitate what is good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God.” 3 John 11
To accept God's love and love Him back means that we well love each other. If we do not love each other, how can we say that we love God. If you love somebody you love their work and we all are created in God's image by God. Therefore we cannot just not love each other because then we are insulting God. This is especially true because God loved us before we loved Him. We deserve nothing from Him yet He has given so much. And how do we tend to repay Him? We do not love others...ouch.
There is this girl who I have a really hard time getting along with. Honestly, I do not understand what went wrong, but it is very obvious that she does not like me. Yet I am supposed to love her? Yep. I have been trying to deal with frustrations at her all semester and it is not easy. I have tried smiling at her and saying 'hi' when I pass her. I have also tried ignoring her when I see her and avoiding her when I can. Nothing is working. As I read through these verses, I thought of her.
“What am I supposed to do, God?” I asked. He said that I could try praying for her and praying for encounters with her.
Honestly, I don't like that answer. She has said somethings to me that have hurt me. But that has always been God's answer when I have a problem with people who I don't get along with who have hurt me. Pray for them. And it really has worked when I have listened. Prayer puts your mind on God and His heart. If His heart radically beats with love for that person you don't like and you are praying for them, it really is hard to keep not liking them.
1, 2, 3 John Blog 1
The authorship was attributed to the author of the Gospel of John until the twentieth century (Keener 734). Some scholars believe that 1, 2, 3 John were written by a disciple of John (Keener 734). Robert Kyser says that some people calls these “general letters” but look like sermons (Kyser, 2195). Keener says that often when the books were compiled, the greetings were taken off which may be why 1 John does not have a greeting (Keener 735). Second John “has the classical form of an ancient letter, with a salutation, a thanksgiving, and a farewell...soon connected with 1 John ” (Kysar, 2203). Third John is a letter of recommendation for Demetrius, who was a traveling missionary (Keener 750). Kyser says that these letters were probably written between 90-110 AD (Kysar 2203). The purpose of 1 and 2 John were probably for defense against false teachers. Other ideas are that “if the setting of 1 John is the same as that of the Fourth Gospel, it is mean to encourage Christians expelled from the synagogues”...”tempted with heresy of compromise elsewhere, including compromise with idolatry advocated by false prophets...” (Keener, 735).
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:5-10
God is in light because he is light and there is no darkness. That was a fun thing for me to think about as I read this verse. If we are in Christ, then we should not continue in darkness. I really enjoyed the logic of these verses. Also, at the same time we cannot be arrogant thinking that we have not sinned, rather we should confess that we have sinned and confess those sins. God will forgive.
“Be on guard, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but may receive a full reward.” 2 John 8
The Christian life is not easy and it is not supposed to be easy right now. Faith is something that we have to keep along with the hope that we have in Christ.
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3 John 4
I thought of my pastor back in Idaho when I read this verse. I can see people like him, who are teaching Christians, feel such a closeness to the people they are teaching that they rejoice when they see that people are following Christ and walking in the truth.
WORKS CITED
Keener, Craig S. “1 John,” Pages 734-746 in The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
--------. “2 John,” Pages 747-749 in The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
--------. “3 John,” Pages 750-74551 in The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
Kyser, Robert. “The First Letter of John.” Pages 2195-2196 in The New Interpreter’s Study Bible with the Apocrypha. Edited by Walter J. Harrelson et al. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003.
--------. “The Second Letter of John.” Pages 2203 in The New Interpreter’s Study Bible with the Apocrypha. Edited by Walter J. Harrelson et al. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003.
--------. “The Third Letter of John.” Pages 2205 in The New Interpreter’s Study Bible with the Apocrypha. Edited by Walter J. Harrelson et al. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003.
“This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” 1 John 1:5-10
God is in light because he is light and there is no darkness. That was a fun thing for me to think about as I read this verse. If we are in Christ, then we should not continue in darkness. I really enjoyed the logic of these verses. Also, at the same time we cannot be arrogant thinking that we have not sinned, rather we should confess that we have sinned and confess those sins. God will forgive.
“Be on guard, so that you do not lose what we have worked for, but may receive a full reward.” 2 John 8
The Christian life is not easy and it is not supposed to be easy right now. Faith is something that we have to keep along with the hope that we have in Christ.
“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” 3 John 4
I thought of my pastor back in Idaho when I read this verse. I can see people like him, who are teaching Christians, feel such a closeness to the people they are teaching that they rejoice when they see that people are following Christ and walking in the truth.
WORKS CITED
Keener, Craig S. “1 John,” Pages 734-746 in The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
--------. “2 John,” Pages 747-749 in The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
--------. “3 John,” Pages 750-74551 in The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1993.
Kyser, Robert. “The First Letter of John.” Pages 2195-2196 in The New Interpreter’s Study Bible with the Apocrypha. Edited by Walter J. Harrelson et al. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003.
--------. “The Second Letter of John.” Pages 2203 in The New Interpreter’s Study Bible with the Apocrypha. Edited by Walter J. Harrelson et al. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003.
--------. “The Third Letter of John.” Pages 2205 in The New Interpreter’s Study Bible with the Apocrypha. Edited by Walter J. Harrelson et al. Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2003.
2 Peter Blog 2
“But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years...” 2 Peter 3:3a.
A man had an opportunity to ask God three questions. He walked up to God smiled and greeted Him. The Lord then nodded and greeted the man back. Next the man asked his first question, “God, how much money is a million dollars to You?” God smiled and replied, “A million dollars is like a penny.” “Wow,” said the man, “What, then, is a second to you?” “A second is like a thousand years.” God replied. The man was impressed, and for his final question, he asked “Can I have a penny?” God nodded, “Sure, just a second!”
So obviously the time proportion got changed a little to make the joke a little funnier...but I love that joke!
Okay, so my application for 2 Peter actually starts now.
“...you should remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Saviour spoken through your apostles. First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts and saying, 'Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!'” 2 Peter 3:2-4
When I was in 12th grade, I was working on my government final and I stumbled across an atheist website. I decided to read the proof that God did not exist based off of the Bible. One of their points was that God has broken His promise, and therefore He must not really exist. That promise is that He has not returned and many Christians have died...yet God has not returned...
Many of their other arguments were not even using full Bible verses. You can make the Bible say just about anything if you twist it out of context. So, of course because God is waiting to return, He must not exist.
Anyway, my application is this: Read the Bible (it helps to remember what you have read if you actually read it)...Remember what you have read whether it is from Moses, Isaiah, Amos, or Paul. Remember also what the Lord has spoken to you. Constantly remember what God says. At the same time, keep seeking the Lord, because God is always thinking and speaking. Finally, do not follow in those scoffings, indulgings and lustings. Do not act like this time thing is just going to keep on going as it has since the days of creation.
That is my prayer for myself right now.
A man had an opportunity to ask God three questions. He walked up to God smiled and greeted Him. The Lord then nodded and greeted the man back. Next the man asked his first question, “God, how much money is a million dollars to You?” God smiled and replied, “A million dollars is like a penny.” “Wow,” said the man, “What, then, is a second to you?” “A second is like a thousand years.” God replied. The man was impressed, and for his final question, he asked “Can I have a penny?” God nodded, “Sure, just a second!”
So obviously the time proportion got changed a little to make the joke a little funnier...but I love that joke!
Okay, so my application for 2 Peter actually starts now.
“...you should remember the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets, and the commandment of the Lord and Saviour spoken through your apostles. First of all you must understand this, that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and indulging their own lusts and saying, 'Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since our ancestors died, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation!'” 2 Peter 3:2-4
When I was in 12th grade, I was working on my government final and I stumbled across an atheist website. I decided to read the proof that God did not exist based off of the Bible. One of their points was that God has broken His promise, and therefore He must not really exist. That promise is that He has not returned and many Christians have died...yet God has not returned...
Many of their other arguments were not even using full Bible verses. You can make the Bible say just about anything if you twist it out of context. So, of course because God is waiting to return, He must not exist.
Anyway, my application is this: Read the Bible (it helps to remember what you have read if you actually read it)...Remember what you have read whether it is from Moses, Isaiah, Amos, or Paul. Remember also what the Lord has spoken to you. Constantly remember what God says. At the same time, keep seeking the Lord, because God is always thinking and speaking. Finally, do not follow in those scoffings, indulgings and lustings. Do not act like this time thing is just going to keep on going as it has since the days of creation.
That is my prayer for myself right now.
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