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ETERNITY IN THEIR HEARTS
2 PETER 3:3-13
 
Pastor Stephen Muncherian
September 6, 1998

I invite you to turn with me to 2 Peter 2:3-13 which is our Bible text. This morning we’re focused on the return of Jesus Christ and what Peter writes to those who are doubting the promises of God.

2 Peter 3:3-13:  First of all you must understand this, that scoffers will come - mockers - those who ridicule Christianity - scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own passions and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? - Jesus isn’t really coming back. That hope is just a fantasy - For since the fathers fell asleep, all things have continued as they were from the beginning of creation.”  They deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God heavens existed long ago, and an earth formed out of water and by means of water, through which the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished.  But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist have been stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.  But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.  The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up.  Since all these things are thus to be dissolved what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire!  But according to His promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

This last week a NASA spacecraft called Lunar Prospector found water on the moon - a lot of water. Did you hear this? The Lunar Prospector spacecraft found about 250 billion gallons of water - all frozen into solid ice. That’s enough water to create a lake 10 miles wide and 50 feet deep. Or, put another way - enough water to fill the washing, flushing and watering needs of every home in America for 10 days. That’s a lot of water.

And what they want to do with that water is use it to build a colony on the moon and to use it as fuel for a rocket service station - for trips elsewhere in the solar system.

I know this sounds like science fiction - but this is what’s going on today.

In November of this year - from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan - the Russians will be launching the first module of the Freedom International Space Station - mankind’s first permanent home in space.

In December of 1997 - for the first time scientists demonstrated a form of teleportation - taking something from here - taking it apart at the molecular level - and reassembling it over here. Using “Quantum Teleportation” - in December of last year - researchers “teleported” a photon. Its like Star Trek - “Beam me up Scotty.”

And for those who think warp speed is science fiction.... Did you know that scientists are presently trying to track sub-atomic particles that they think are moving faster than the speed of light?

And add to all of this the advances we’ve seen lately in medicine - fighting disease by genetic manipulation - transplant operations that are almost as routine as changing parts in our cars. And the advances in telecommunication - almost instant communication around the world.

With all that mankind is beginning to understand - and the theories and ideas about life and existence - there is in our society an belief that we are all alone on this earth - that nothing exists except the cosmos - and that we are masters of our own destiny. Time will continue on just as it has - and God - if we choose to believe in Him - is really detached from all this.

And with the almost 2,000 years of history that have passed since Jesus walked on this earth - it is very easy to wonder if maybe we might have misunderstood something about God and His promises.

Peter writes - 2 Peter 3:3,4 - “In the last days, scoffers will come....saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?’” Time goes on and nothing changes. So why should we expect anything different?

The question is not a new one. The Old Testament prophets faced similar questions in their day. In Malachi’s day, evil men asked "Where is the God of justice?" (2:17) In David’s day the pagans asked, "Where is your God?" (Psalm 42:3) The enemies of Jeremiah said, "Where is the Word of the Lord?" (17:15)

Jesus faced the scoffers daily during his ministry. And, they were there to taunt him at his trial and execution.

The scoffers followed the apostles during their ministry. In Peter’s day they were asking - “Didn't Jesus say He would rise again? Didn't He say - before He went away - that He would return? It's been 30 years. Where is He?" Almost two thousand years later we still hear the same mocking questions.

So here we sit - and it is very easy to wonder if maybe everyone else is right and we’ve got it wrong. Peter writes to our brothers and sisters of the first century who asked the exact same questions. Peter says that there are two truths we must keep in mind. First:

1. HISTORY GIVES US EVIDENCE OF THE WORKING OF GOD (verses 5-7)

History shows us the authority and power of the God who is actively involved in His creation.

Peter gives two examples - First, Creation itself. Peter writes - verse 5 - “They - the scoffers - deliberately ignore this fact, that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and by water.” Peter states boldly what so many Christians today are afraid to say. By God’s word all of this has come into existence. Heaven and earth were created. God spoke and it was so.

If one is willing to set aside his or her presuppositions that the supernatural is impossible - there is ample evidence for creation. Creation with design and intent - creation by God.

Secondly Peter writes that in history God has judged mankind. In Genesis 6 we read that the world was filled with corruption and violence - that mankind was bent on evil continually. And God by His word caused the great Flood during the days of Noah - destroying sinful humanity. Peter writes that the scoffers choose to ignore this fact. Which is amazing. How can someone over look the Flood - unless they choose to.

And then Peter writes - in verse 7 - in the same way God will bring about judgment. God by His sovereign word will unleash judgment on creation and mankind.

Jesus said, “For the coming of the Son of Man - Jesus - will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days which were before the Flood they were eating and drinking, they were marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark. And they did not understand until the Flood came and took them all away, so shall the coming of the Son of Man be.” (Matthew 24:37-39)

The point Peter is making is that the scoffers choose to ignore the evidence of history which points to God. Choose to ignore what God has done - and it should be pretty easy to doubt what he will do.

Peter writes - don’t be fooled by the scoffers - things do not just “continue” - God is at work.

The second truth Peter shares is that:

2. GOD USES TIME ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSES (verses 8-10)

Time is a tool in God’s hand - and we’ll always be frustrated and disappointed - led to doubt God - if we expect God to act according to our time-frame - according to our expectations. How can relate our understanding of time to someone who views 1,000 years with the brevity of 1 day - and 1 day with the fullness of 1,000 years?

So, Peter writes in verse 9, don’t worry, “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness....” There are many examples in scripture of God keeping His promises to individuals - even though he appeared to be slow in doing so.

God promised Abraham a land for his inheritance, but that promise could not be fulfilled for 400 years after it was made. The Ammorites who were given all those years to repent, were living on the land that was promised to Abraham - so the promise made to Abraham was not fulfilled until the time of Joshua his descendant - 400 years later.

At the age of 75 - God promised Abraham a son - an heir - and 25 years later Isaac was born. God promised Moses and David a Savior - but Jesus did not appear on the scene for 2,000 years following the death of Moses.

God keeps His promises regardless of the time interval involved. And, God uses intervals of time for His purposes. Peter writes - verse 9 - “The Lord....is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”

God is long-suffering toward rebellious mankind. The Bible says, “There is none righteous, no, not one.” (Romans 3:10) Men are “dead in their trespasses and sins.” (Ephesians 2:1) Everyone deserves hell and eternal separation from God. (Romans 6:23) And when Jesus returns - that’s it. Judgment and Hell and eternal separation for those without Jesus.

But, God is patient toward us that we might be saved. And God loves our family members and friends - our co-workers - who have not trusted Jesus. And He is patient - perhaps working through us - to share the Gospel and bring them to salvation.

A while back I ran across a true story that illustrates this truth of God working all things together - in His time - to bring mankind to salvation. I want to share it with you this morning. It concerns the people of Vanuatu.

Vanuatu - formerly the New Hebrides - is an independent republic consisting of a group of about 70 islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The islands were first discovered in 1606 by the Portuguese - and until 1980 were jointly administered by the French and British.

During World War II - the United States established a large navel and airbase on one of the major islands in the group. And although there was little combat on or over Vanuatu - the war had a tremendous effect on the people. The Americans came - overwhelmed everything for four years - exposed what were primitive tribespeople to modern civilization - and then suddenly left.

When the Americans left - the people of Vanuatu - and especially on the island of Tanna - one of the principal islands in the group - the island people established what has been called a “cargo cult.” Cargo cults have been around since the 19th century - they’re found among certain primitive island peoples who have been exposed to the wealth of the west. The word “cargo” refers to these foreign material goods. Some cult prophets promise that the arrival of “cargo” will herald a period of prosperity and well-being.

The Jon Frum Movement is one of these cargo cults which began as a result of the American presence in World War II. Entire villages have been organized into imitation armies - with officers dressed as U.S. Army sergeants. Villagers march with the letters USA painted in red on their bodies and they use imitation equipment - rifles made of bamboo and painted as if they have real bayonets. Followers of Jon Frum have built landing strips and warehouses in anticipation of the arrival of air cargo.

The center of the Jon Frum cargo cult is based in the village of Sulphur Bay - on the island of Tanna. The Jon Frum Church houses the movement’s sacred Red Cross where prayers and flowers are offered. The prayers are followed by a flag raising ceremony - an American flag raising ceremony - and a military parade.

All this may sound strange to us here in the Bay Area. Has anybody here ever heard about these “cargo cults?” Most people have absolutely no idea that any of this goes on today.

There are two other things you need to know about cargo cults - before I get to the point of all this. First - cargo cults - and especially the Jon Frum cargo cult is completely closed to the Gospel and to the work of the Church. They have their own Jon Frum gospel and their own Jon Frum church - none of which is Christian.

Second - The bottom line of the Jon Frum movement is that Tannese islanders believe that a man named John - “from” - America will come on a white ship and bring prosperity to the people. And they have been waiting for this for 50 plus years.

John Rush - was a missionary with YWAM - Youth With A Mission - on board their Mercy Ship - the Pacific Ruby. YWAM’s Mercy Ships go throughout the world and provide medical and other types of relief - while sharing the Gospel. When the white ship - Pacific Ruby - came to Tanna - bearing supplies and help - and John Rush - who was from America - the islanders believed that he was the one who would somehow meet their needs.

A door was opened. John shared Jesus and His Gospel - and villages came to trust Jesus as their Savior. When a Christian church was opened in Sulphur Bay - the center of the Jon Frum Movement - a crowd of 3,000 plus attended.

I do not believe that John being on that ship at that time was a matter of coincidence. It was a divine appointment from our God who uses time according to His will - calling all men to Himself.

We live in a society which chooses to doubt the existence and working of a personal God - because to admit His existence would mean that we would have to be accountable to Him. It is easier to scoff than to be accountable.

Peter writes that Jesus’ return will be sudden - miraculous - a time of judgment - of punishment and reward. Therefore, Peter writes in verses 11 to 13 - be people of holy - sinless - conduct, and godliness - piety towards God - accountability to God. And live with expectation and not doubt. Because Jesus is coming back for you.