Knowing This Beforehand
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Knowing This Beforehand
2 Peter 3:17-18
You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness, but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.
Forewarnings are so important. We get weather alerts for tornadoes, blizzards, earthquakes, and floods. There are warnings for dangerous road conditions and even various scams taking place. Common sense tells us to take the proper precautions when we hear these forewarnings.
In 1980, when Mt. St. Helen erupted, 57 people needlessly lost their lives because they did not heed the warnings or felt they were in a safe enough zone. Second chances could not be given.
Because most people will heed warnings like these, it is odd that not very many will heed Peter’s forewarnings about all sorts of sinful lifestyles and false prophets in the last days. How does Peter want us to take precautions?
First of all, he wants us to remember that this warning has been given way beforehand. It has been preached for thousands of years now, so people don’t pay a whole lot of attention. But, we need to be wise enough to pay attention and take precautions.
Secondly, Peter wants us to be on guard against all sorts of unprincipled men. In the end days, people of all sorts will be trying to mock Christianity, deny the existence of God, deny Jesus’ divinity and His authority to forgive all sins. They will even deny a coming Judgment Day. Since all that is obviously happening all around us, we are supposed to be wise enough to take that as a forewarning.
Peter is very concerned that Christians will fall from their steadfastness. All the constant pressure from worldly philosophies and ungodliness will cause Christians to fearfully want to be politically correct in their stance on abortions, homosexuality, the question of evolution, the Bible’s authority as God’s word, and our need to live a godly life. If we don’t take Peter’s forewarning seriously, we could fall from the true faith and lose eternal life — needlessly.
Peter warns that we must “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ”. If we are not growing in the true faith, we are most likely getting weaker and about to fall.
We must have nourishment in order to grow and that means feeding on God’s word. No one can become strong in the true faith if they never read and study God’s word. If we want to live with Christ in glory, now is the time to strengthen our faith by finding out all that Jesus Christ has done for us and meditating on His word.
As we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we say, “Hallelujah! Jesus, You fulfilled all the prophecies of the Old Testament with Your suffering, death and resurrection. Now we know You will fulfill your prophecies about the end days. Thank you for letting us know all these things beforehand.”
Love,
Margaret
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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and GOD of gods
Pray for our country.
The LORD made this day, let us rejoice and be glad in Him.
Psalm 118:24
The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield to all who take refuge in Him.
Psalm 18:30
Sing for joy in the LORD, O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming to the upright.
Psalm 33:1
How blessed are those who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4
Just as a father has compassion on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1
Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3
Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12
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