Scripture is God’s voice speaking to anyone who wishes to know God’s ways. In His Word He unveils knowledge, not only concerning the creation of this world, but also of the righteous new world to come.
His Word teaches that neither this world nor anything in it was created by spontaneous accidents, evolving over billions of years; but by faith, a perfect creation was spoken into existence through the Word of God–Jesus Christ. He created the worlds, the reaches of space and the ages of time–upholding, maintaining, guiding, propelling, and stretching out the universe by His mighty Word of power (Jn. 1:1-3). He loves righteousness and hates lawlessness. His kingdom now is and always will be composed of righteousness, maintained by the power of obedient faith in God through Jesus Christ; His enemy is lawlessness, the breaking of God’s commandments. Jesus Christ, having offered Himself on the cross for the cleansing of our sins, now sits at the right hand of God, waiting, until all His enemies become a footstool for His feet (Heb. 1:1-13). This present heavens and earth will grow old, wear out, and perish along with God’s enemies, being replaced by a new heavens and a new earth where only righteousness dwells (2 Pet. 3:13). Your opportunity to insure that you will enjoy the righteous, new world of the future is now, by choosing righteousness (obedient faith in Christ) over lawlessness (sin) during your stay upon this earth.
Prophecy repeatedly warns that our spiritual leaders in the last days will misinterpret the Gospel and its purpose, twisting and misconstruing it to their own utter destruction–and yours. “In the last days you will clearly understand it. I did not send these prophets (leaders/teachers) … but if they had stood in My council, then they would have announced My words to My people, and would have turned them back from their evil way and from the evil of their deeds” (Jer. 23:20-22). God’s Gospel requires turning completely away from breaking God’s commandments and turning completely to faithful obedience to Jesus Christ (1 Tim. 6:12-14). Found within obedience to Christ is the promise and power to overcome every lawless deed (1 Cor. 10:13, 14). By de-emphasizing, ignoring or eliminating obedience to God’s commandments, which is the outcome of true faith (Ro. 2:13; 3:31), today’s faulty gospel is sidestepping the standard by which all men must govern themselves–providing the devil with an open door to continue doing his evil through “Christians”. Today, this errant gospel has helped to form a worldview found in our churches, schools, and governments, which is leading us away from God and towards the destruction promised for sin (Mk. 7:6-9, 13; 2 Thess. 2:10-12). Scripture strongly warns that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who in their unrighteousness, both their teaching and their lifestyle, hinder the Gospel’s power from performing its work of restoring men to godliness (Ro. 1:16-22; 2 Tim. 3:1-5). God sent His grace to instruct us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires in order to live godly and righteously in this present age (Titus 2:11-15).
Darkened in their understanding many people overlook this fact: The same Word which created the heavens and earth in the beginning is the same Word holding His creation together for its destruction by fire–kept until the Day of Judgment for the purpose of destroying all ungodly people. The Day of Judgment will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a thunderous crash and the material elements of the universe will be dissolved with fire–all the earth and all its works will be burned up–the flaming heavens will be dissolved and the material elements of the universe will flare and melt with fire (2 Pet. 3:1-10). No amount of ingenuity or money spent by the nations will save the earth or stop this day from coming–it is a foregone conclusion. In fact, God laughs at the leaders of the earth, who devise useless plans, taking counsel against God’s Word (Ps. 2:1-4). God intends to execute judgment upon all unrepentant sinners and to convict all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds and all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him–even those who have confessed His name, yet continue in ungodliness (Jude 1:15).
Considering the signs of the times, all of us would be wise to ask ourselves the same question found in 2 Peter 3:11 and 12: Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought we to be in holy conduct and godliness, while awaiting the heavens to be destroyed by burning and the elements to melt with intense heat?
According to God’s promise, the godly can be looking forward to the righteous new world of the future–a new heavens and a new earth in which only righteousness dwells. Having this promise, true followers of God are diligent to be found pure at the coming of Jesus Christ, without spot or blemish, in peace, free from evil passions and moral conflicts. Therefore, consider His slowness in avenging wrongs and judging the world to be time for you to work out and fully complete your own salvation, being watchful against temptation, shrinking from whatever might offend God and discredit the name of Christ (Phil. 2:12-16). This can only be done by faith in Jesus Christ–the Word, for then God’s Word begins effectually working in you, energizing and creating in you the power and desire to progressively carry out His purpose of walking blamelessly, holding out the Word of Life in the midst of a spiritually perverted world, while awaiting the righteous new world of the future where God will dwell with righteous men-those who have repented and practiced righteousness during their stay upon this earth (2 Pet. 3:14, 15; Rev. 21:1-8).