2 Peter 3:11-14: Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
The coming “scoffers” described in 2 Peter 3 could see only the “here and now.” These individuals would ask “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation” (2 Peter 3:4). The Holy Spirit responded in part by saying how longsuffering God is, but also assured that the day of the Lord will come (verse 10).
Verses 11-14 are directed toward those individuals who know Jesus will return and that all will stand before Him in judgment. If we know this will happen, the appropriate response is to live holy and godly during our brief stay here on earth.
This choice calls for “foresight.” It requires us to look beyond the here and now, and (spiritually) see the (physically) unseen. Foresight involves the ability to recognize not just what seems to make sense in the “short run,” but what will be beneficial or harmful in the “long run.”
God gives us this foresight through His Word. He distinguishes between what is temporarily profitable and what is eternally profitable (cf. Matt. 6:19-20).
The wisdom that is from above teaches us to serve God to the best of our ability “in the moment” because we are looking to something beyond the moment. Our reward is not instantaneous, but must be waited for.
As Moses had the foresight to avoid the “pleasures of sin for a season” (Heb. 11:25) because he esteemed “the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward” (verse 26), so we must avoid things that promise instant gratification if they oppose God’s will.
May we fill our hearts and minds with God’s Word, and thereby have the foresight to recognize the brevity of life, certainty of judgment, and importance of living holy lives to prepare for Jesus’ return.
– Michael Hickox