Holiness #5 — Hastening Holiness

Since the earth will be destroyed, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness as you look for and hasten the coming of the day of God. … which, according to his promise, will produce a new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells? 2 Peter 3:11–13

It’s hard to imagine a world devoid of most of what we now know and hold dear. Most of the causes and the things to which we devote our time and energy will eventually disappear. Things won’t disappear because they’re evil or remain because their good. They’ll go because they’re meant to be temporary. Right now it’s difficult to imagine a world without wickedness, injustice and violence; or where no one minces words or destroys hope with cynicism. But we must imagine such a world in which righteousness dwells. For we can hasten its coming. By remembering that much of what we do is only of secondary importance and will be destroyed, we can concentrate our energy on activities which will bring about our most cherished hope. We will be motivated to holy conduct when we realize it will have lasting consequences. What valuable behavior will accelerate God’s creative renewal? Bringing people to repentance and encouraging one another to live in the obedience of faith are the most valuable ways we can precipitate this precious promise.

O Lord, I want your promise to come soon. Grant me the grace I need to see its beauty, so I will demonstrate love for what is truly excellent and ultimately valuable. Amen.