Daily Devotional | Waiting for Righteousness

Some people don’t like to talk about the end of the world—it’s too depressing. And they’re right. The Bible does not teach that things will get better and better. It says just the opposite. But the biblical perspective isn’t pessimistic. It is hopeful because it teaches that, at the end, God will usher in a new world.

Those of us who are waiting for the new heaven and new earth may get impatient. Indeed, in today’s passage, Peter warns that unbelievers will misinterpret the wait as proof that God does not exist (vv. 3–4). But what feels like a delay is evidence that God’s timing is vastly different from ours (v. 8). More importantly, it is a sign of God’s patience. In Scripture “the day of the Lord” is a frequent designation for a time of judgment (see Isa. 13:6, 9; Ezek. 30:3; Joel 1:15). In verse 10 it refers to the final judgment, which will be ushered in by Christ’s return. Following will be the creation of a new heaven and a new earth.

Peter’s outlook is not pessimistic. He doesn’t say, since you can’t improve the situation, don’t bother to do anything. His message is the opposite. Since the end will come this way, we are to “make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him” (v. 14). Just as Jesus is the only hope for the world to come, He is the only hope we have for being found spotless and blameless before God. If God does not seem to be in a hurry to wrap things up, it is because He is providing space for those who have not yet turned to Christ to repent and believe.

>> In these days, when right and wrong are often confused, we must continue to point people to Jesus. Only Jesus is the answer to humanity’s problem with sin and our only hope for righteousness. If you have not done so already, turn to Him in faith today.

Pray with Us

“I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens...Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth” (Ps. 57:9–11).

BY Dr. John Koessler

John Koessler is Professor Emeritus of Applied Theology and Church Ministries at Moody Bible Institute. John authors the “Practical Theology” column for Today in the Word of which he is also a contributing writer and theological editor. An award-winning author, John’s newest title is When God is Silent: Let the Bible Teach You to Pray (Kirkdale). Prior to joining the Moody faculty, he served as a pastor of Valley Chapel in Green Valley, Illinois, for nine years. He and his wife, Jane, now enjoy living in a lakeside town in Michigan.