We live in a world where truth seems undefined, or at least debatable. So how can we know HOW to think rather than what to think. Because if we know HOW to think we will be able to determine more easily what truth really is.

In fact, if we know how to think we can 1) know who we are, 2) know you relationship with God and 3) find our way forward in this world with truth.

2 Peter 3 says:

10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

There are several key verses in this chapter, but the phrase for us to consider is this, “the day of the Lord”. When we speak of this we are talking about eschatology – a new word for some which really means the study of end times. Some will scoff and say that we have been always talking about end times in the church. In fact, we have because we have understood that since the resurrection of Jesus and His promise to return, we have been in end times. This is why Peter makes this comment in this passage:

3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”

Then he points to the days of Noah – which Jesus also referenced… “it will be like in the days of Noah” to which Jesus reminds us and his hearers that we have a tendency to be caught up in daily life making sure we have food, shelter, comfort and sometimes we do not look around at the signs of the time. Jesus reminded his disciples that it was like noticing that the trees were getting ready for winter. We certainly can identify with that – falling leaves and the appearance of sleep or death.

The phrase, last days or day of the Lord, is replete in Scripture.

Micah 4

In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established
    as the highest of the mountains;
it will be exalted above the hills,
    and peoples will stream to it.

Acts 2:17

“‘In the last days, God says,
    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
    your young men will see visions,
    your old men will dream dreams.

2 Timothy 3

But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.

1 Thessalonians 5

Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

Why do you think Peter added this chapter to his second letter? Was he hoping to engender fear or hope?

And what do you think he wants us to think about who we are? And how should we think about those last days? Thinking right means having a perspective of how God holds us in His hand and what that means for our future, no matter what.

In the final words of the New Testament John writes the words given to him..

Revelation 21

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Remember that this is the Revelation of Jesus Christ – about Jesus Christ. The whole of God’s story is about how He is working to recreate His creation and in doing so we take our place in that story.

We are His – He has made that clear and a time is coming when He will right the wrongs, bring justice to this world, give life to those who trusted in Him in days past and return His creation to what He intended to begin with.

Why not now? Well, it seems that God is patient awaiting many who may put their faith in Him to do so. But a day will come – the day of the Lord – when He will keep His promise. Until then – keep the faith says the Apostle Paul, and do not fear.