20110828
When someone is described as “living like there is no tomorrow”, the term usually carries with it a negative and selfish connotation, e.g. someone who is squandering huge sums of money, who acts and behaves in a manner that lacks accountability and responsibility. However, in a special way, Christians ought to live as if there may be no tomorrow! The “last days” is the time between Jesus’ first and second comings. The Apostle Peter also echoed our Lord Jesus Christ’s warning that the day of the Lord (last day) will come like a thief (2 Pet. 3:10; Rev 3:3). Although only God the Father is aware of the “day or hour” of the second coming of the Son of Man (Mt. 24:36), Peter revealed that our Lord Jesus is waiting patiently for more sinners to repent and turn to Him (2 Pet. 3:9).
This is extremely good news! More sinners redeemed from eternal damnation to be reconciled with God and greater the rejoicing in heaven (Lk. 15:10). For us believers, this good news has great implications, of which Peter lists two major ones. The first is on how we should live our lives (2 Pet. 3:11-14). As life on earth is temporal and everything will be consumed by fire, are we overly distracted by (or under bondage to) an affluent lifestyle, status and material wealth? Our Lord Jesus taught that it is more important to store up treasures in heaven (Mt. 6:19-24). Peter further emphasized the need for us to focus instead on the critical issue of living holy and godly lives, and to “make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace” with the Lord.
The second implication is on our role in Jesus’ strategy for the salvation of the world! (2 Pet. 3:12a, 15) We are to “speed its coming” by reaching out with the good news about Jesus Christ to the world! Impossible? HIM possible! Step by Step! One by One! We are commanded by our Lord Jesus in Acts 1:8 to start with our Jerusalem (family, workplace, neighbourhood), continue with our Judea and Samaria (home country) and proceed on to the ends of the earth (overseas). We do our part in sharing the good news that salvation is only found in Jesus Christ – “He is the Way and the Truth and the Life”. And the Lord Jesus will multiply our meagre “five loaves and two fish”.
That’s Mission and Me!
