There is a strange irony about people living at the end of an age. Just when signs speak with forceful clarity of the approaching end, there grows the conviction the end will not come!
Man’s vain ideas
Man’s eternal optimism is aroused, blinding his senses: “Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation” (II Pet. 3:4). At a time when mankind’s degeneracy exceeds even the longsuffering of God, men ironically speak of “peace” — a state of being right with God, as if God approves of their wicked deeds (cf. Mic. 3:9-11,12; Jer. 6:13-15), and “safety” — a state of stability and firmness, as if the degenerate human systems are still worthy of confidence and dependence! (Cf. Jer. 7:4).
The world, lulled thus by a false sense of peace and security, falls back into the old patterns of marrying and giving in marriage, sowing and reaping, buying and selling — everything, in fact, except what God is seeking: repentance.
The world in the household
But is there a deeper, more tragic story? Peter writes of scoffers coming in these last days (II Pet.3:3): Are these just unbelieving neighbors who ridicule the saints? Paul writes of those who speak of “peace and safety” (I Thess 5:3): Are these just ignorant Gentiles?
There is an unmistakable allusion in I Thessalonians 5:4-7 to Matthew 24:42-44 and 48-50. It establishes a connection both unexpected and deeply disturbing: Among these scoffers and unbelievers are some of Christ’s own servants.
Is it possible that each one reading these words is in danger of absorbing the same complacent attitude evidenced by these men? Are we, too, blinding ourselves by a promiscuous indulgence in the pleasures and cares of this final age?
Are we expecting his coming?
One hundred years ago, brethren were in a high state of expectancy of their Lord’s return. They talked and wrote about it. It constantly occupied their thoughts. Can the same be said today about us? Or has the materialism of this age lulled us into a comfortable stupor?
“Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be?” (II Pet. 3:11). In two words, Peter sums up the only thing that delivers us from the tragedy of this final generation: “holiness” and “godliness.”
Holiness
A life of holiness is a life that deliberately chooses a direction different from the world. Abraham moved away from the world, setting his tent, and his life, toward the city “which hath foundations whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:9,10).
With a deliberateness that ought not to be missed, God contrasts the tragic mistake made by Lot — a mistake too often seen in this present generation. “And Lot…pitched his tent towards Sodom” (Gen. 13:12). Why open the doors of one’s house in that direction? Is this not an open invitation to all the influences and desires of Sodom to take up permanent residence in one’s home and life?
At the end, Lot lost everything to Sodom. And so also shall it be in the day of the coming of the Son of man.
Godliness
While holiness describes the direction of one’s life, godliness describes one’s behavior. Simply, godliness is God-likeness.
What is the key to godliness? Paul’s advice to the brethren in Corinth points in the right direction: “Do not be misled: bad company corrupts good characters” (I Cor. 15:33 NIV). Just as the key to holiness is orienting your home and life in the right direction, so the key to godliness is the company you keep in your home. Once Lot opened his tent door toward Sodom, it was inevitable Sodom’s degrading influences would be accommodated in his own house.
Is it indeed possible to “carry fire in one’s bosom” and not be burned? Is it credible to believe godliness can shield one from the corruption of company of this sort? Evidently Lot thought so.
Surprisingly, he did remain immune! (cf. II Pet. 2:7,8). But no one else in his household did, not one manservant or maidservant, not his wife, not even his two daughters [who employed Sodom’s tactics to conceive, ed.].
There is an immeasurable sadness in beholding the lonely and desolate end of Lot. But what greater sadness might our Lord now have as he looks upon us who know all these things?
To what company do we open our doors? What influences of this last age are our children’s companions? The word of God or the TV? Men of faith or men of lust?
Remember Lot’s wife. Remember his daughters also.
“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 in it will be laid bare. “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming” (II Peter 3:10-12 NIV).
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One