… the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire …
Summary: The Bible is full of all types of information. How we respond to that information says something about us. If we have put our faith in Jesus, we can see the information more clearly.
Do you know what a Rorschach test is? Perhaps you know it as an “inkblot test?” In essence, it is an abstract image made from a blot of ink on paper which is then folded in half to make the image symmetrical.
The idea behind the Rorschach test is that there are things in the closets of our minds that we cannot see. The abstract image allows us to draw out, or “project” our subconscious thinking.
In the same way, the Bible is a kind of Rorschach test. How we react to it reveals who we are inside. Some people scoff at the idea of the Bible being a message from God. (Peter has already told us about the scoffers.) Other people look at the Bible as beyond them, but they respect it. Some people get angry when confronted by the Bible, while others venerate the book.
If a person dares to open the cover and read the words of the Bible, he is presented with layer upon layer of more Rorschach tests. How are we to understand the Genesis story? Is it literal or figurative? Was there really a great flood that destroyed the entire world? Is Jesus really the Son of God and did he really die and come back to life?
Question after question confronts us as we read through the pages of the Bible. It can feel overwhelming. Yet when we come to the place where we accept the Bible as the Word of God, something amazing happens. There is a shift in our thinking and in an eye-blink everything starts to make sense.
Much of the Bible is dedicated to prophesy, the foretelling of things to come. Many of the prophecies are recorded as having already been fulfilled. Many more deal with what are called the “end times.”
When we make the mental shift from projecting our expectations of God onto the Bible and start seeing the Bible for what it is, prophecy makes sense. God is preparing us for what is coming. God gives us clues to the end of the story because we want to know: How does it all end?
As it turns out, there is an end. The “present heavens and earth are reserved for fire.” Should that scare us?
The answer to that question depends on your relationship with Jesus Christ. Do you have one?
It is not for me or anyone else to assess your relationship with Jesus for you. That is between you and Jesus. But if you have one, if you believe in him (John 3: 14-15), then you have nothing to be afraid of. If we are born of the Spirit (John 3: 5-6) then the death of the flesh cannot hurt us (Romans 8:9).
This is one of those things that the Rorschach test of seeing the Bible brings out in us. If we are in Christ, knowing the end of the story brings comfort. If we are not in Christ… it is hard to comprehend the end of all things — for if all we have is the flesh, that is all we know.
There is an end coming. Not to life in the Spirit, but life in the flesh. This world and the universe around it have a pull date. Like milk in the fridge, there comes a time when it goes bad and it is time to start over.
Application: Stay focused on Jesus.
Food for Thought: How do you feel about the idea that the entire universe is reserved for fire?
It’s not like we have taken care of what God has entrusted to us.
I apologize. The way I feel about the universe being reserved for fire makes me feel like it is justified for what we have done. How much the world has turned away from God? Maybe it’s my own anger building up inside me? Maybe I need to remember love more. Maybe that’s why God is giving us more time, He wants to give people more time, a chance, allowing us to try to save more souls. Or maybe God is giving me time to win some battles in my own life by leaning on Him, by following His words of love. Maybe I need to remember to hate sin, not the sinner.
The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance
2 Peter 3:9
I think Peter is in the same place, T. He just finished talking about two kinds of people, false teachers and scoffers. Both deserve judgement and give him a righteous anger, but both vengeance and judgement are the Lord’s so we wait for it….. Some days we sit a little like Jonah, “okay, God, destroy them!” Having seen enough sin to go beyond our patience. But the timing is not ours.
God is not slow. God is beyond time, so we haven’t even seen slow yet. He’ll bring the fire when the time is right, until then we can’t take salvation off the table. We won’t win souls by asking for destruction. Heh, yeah, another simple yet difficult task.
Tim,
There is a side to righteousness that seems unrighteous in certain light. Righteous anger is a godly response to unrighteousness. Yet, true righteousness demands that we defer judgment to God. The righteous do not condemn but continue to hope. So if you feel anger about how people act when their actions are unrighteous, that is not a bad thing. It is how we react to anger that can cause us to sin.
As to your other questions about God giving us more time, saving more souls, learning to lean on him, following him in love … Yes. I think the answer is “yes” to all of these.
Thank you for the devotion brother. And thank you x and t for the comments. T’s view resonates with me as it reminds me that we don’t have much time. Today’s truth reminds me that there is an expiration date which means I need to be about the Lord’s business. Whether it be death, or rapture, etc., time is a limited resource.
As far as the present heavens and earth being reserved for fire I am at peace, because it means something better is coming for those in Christ Jesus. Revelation 21 and 22.
Rich,
Amen! Keeping our eyes on Jesus and living in his will is not just something for Sundays. 🙂
I am sure it all depends on how we define the word fire,..
We can be on fire for Christ,..we need to fan the flame within us to keep the fire burning for Christ,..
As far as the universe is concerned burning up with fire,..why does it matter? Even Jesus doesn’t know the day or hour that will come,..why do we concern ourselves with the end so much when we should be focusing on the eternal aspect of what Christ did for us?
Because of Jesus I get to live forever,..I will get to watch the universe go up in smoke,..and I am blessed because I read and believe in this prophecy that’s been written in the Bible,..
John,
Leave it to you to bring the poet’s perspective to this topic! I love it! Why does it matter indeed? For those of us who know our Savior, all that matters is Him.
12-18-2021, 2 Peter 3:7b, How do you feel about the idea that the entire universe is reserved for fire?
Today believers glorify God to the world as we submit to Jesus Christ over this world system, allowing Him to be seen in our lives. We experience the riches of God’s presence through a growing relationship with Jesus Christ. The heavens speak of His glory, power to all humanity.
John 6:51-58,15: 1-17, Ephesians 2:18
One reason all humanity, the heavens and earth have been created is to glorify God. Once they cease to fulfill this purpose, there is no longer any reason for their continued existence.
Psalm 8:1, 19:1,150:6, Isaiah 43:7, 45:12
One day all we see will be consumed by fire and the dwelling place of God will be with man. He will dwell with us, and we will be his people, and God himself will be with us as our God”
Revelation 21:3
Thank you, Ron!
Being face to face with God would be horribly terrifying without Jesus to be there with us. Thank God for God!