Text: 2 Peter 3:1-18

Every election cycle we find ourselves bombarded with polling numbers. People’s hopes, fears, concerns, and sense of wellbeing become contingent upon these polls. Unfavorable poll results can dictate people’s anxiety levels, cause panic, and bring forth a wellspring of vitriolic emotions.

Translation: polls have the tendency to control people’s sense of stability.

Because the first century church was born and thrived under the imperialistic Roman Empire, they knew that Christ’s kingdom advancement was not subject to human forms of government or shady political parties. Their faith was in the sovereign rule of Christ and His second coming, which would ultimately triumph over every human institution and authority. But that doesn’t mean they didn’t grow impatient as godlessness seemed to gain ground.

The Apostle Peter appears to be writing to some early believers who were growing impatient at the Lord’s return. He aims to reorient their spiritual perspective by “stirring up” their sincere minds (2 Peter 3:1), to remember the predictions of the holy prophets. He reminded them that “scoffers” would come with their boasting against the Lord (v3), yet judgment for the ungodly was indeed inevitable (v7).

Peter encouraged Christ-followers to think of delayed judgment not as God slacking on His promises, but rather to see the delays as God being patient so that more souls would come to salvation through Christ, “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (v9).

So what sort of people ought we to be (v11) when it seems that godlessness is rampant and the Lord is delaying His return?

1. We should be a people with an unshaken eternal perspective; waiting patiently “for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (v13). Beloved, it is coming. Take courage!
2. We should be diligent to be found “at peace” (v14), not “losing our stability” (v17); and “not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God” (Philippians 1:28 ESV). Christians should be the most stable people on the planet in the midst of unstable times.
3. We should be growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (v18). Unfortunately, politics and election cycles cause many Christians to put their “growth in grace” on hold. Politics can make us ugly. It can bring out the worst in us. What if we spent more energy in praying for our own growth in grace than we invested in heated political arguments?

A human majority has never weakened God’s purposes. No election has ever thwarted His plans!

A human majority has never weakened God’s purposes. No election has ever thwarted His plans!
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Noah was in the minority when he built an ark as the world laughed. Yet it saved him and his family. Moses was in the minority when he confronted Pharaoh and led millions of slaves out of Egyptian bondage. Joshua and Caleb were in the minority when they returned from Canaan with a ‘God-is-bigger’ mentality while the majority of the spies shrunk in fear. Gideon started with 32,000 in his camp. He told the fearful to go home and only 10,000 remained. Then God reduced his camp down to an anemic 300 men. Not much of a voting block, yet God defeated the Midianites with that minority and proved that the Almighty didn’t need strength of numbers to flex His muscles on earth.

God isn’t intimidated by red or blue states. Rather, “the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him” (2 Chronicles 16:9). When changing the world, God uses those whose hearts lean daily into His Spirit much more than He uses legislation or political outcomes.

Remember, it is a wonderful privilege to exercise your freedom and vote your conscience on Election Day, yet it’s an unhealthy and “unstable” thing to invest all your emotions in the outcomes of a human institution that will not, and cannot thwart God’s sovereign purposes. Take comfort in this truth as you abide in Him this week.

For further study: 1 Chronicles 29:10-12, Daniel 2:21; 4:24-35

Questions for Reflection and/or Family Discussion:

1. In what ways has this election year affected you emotionally?
2. Why do you think the early church thrived under the imperialistic Roman Empire, and is flourishing today in many regions where expressions of the Christian faith are illegal (such as China)?
3. Do you sometimes feel like “evil” is winning in our society? In what ways do you see God working contrary to that evil?
4. How should Peter’s encouragement to that first century church be relevant to us today?
5. What can you “diligently” do this week (v14) to be more “at peace” despite the political climate of our nation and “take care that you do not lose your own stability,” but grow in grace (v17-18)?

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