Nothing New ... (2 Peter 2:4-11)

Today’s scripture: 2 Peter 2:4-11

King Solomon wrote, “…there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecc. 1:9), and it’s so very true. Sometimes we think we live in the vilest, most corrupt time in history, but truly? This world has seen some really vile, corrupt stuff. Just read those last verses again. There have always been those who “indulge the flesh in its corrupt desires” or those who “despise authority” or those who are “self-willed.” And seriously, twice God destroyed all but a handful of people because of their depravity—once the entire earthly population in Noah’s day, and once two cities in Abraham’s.

So why should we be surprised at the actions of those living today? The only real difference is mass media puts all the “yuck” of the world right in our faces. You can’t even check your email without seeing the latest headline about abuse, murder, sexual sin, moral decline … It’s all around us.

And it can be a bit depressing to see wickedness seemingly prevail.

Ah, but we can’t forget the most important thing. Our holy God is in absolute control. He will judge the sinner and rescue the saint. One day—and only the Father knows when—God the Son will return to earth and gather up those who chose to follow Him. Then our God will judge all who chose not to follow Him. And every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ, God the Son, is Lord. And God the Father will be glorified. (See Phil. 2:10-11.)

One day, all the “yuck” will be forever gone. And we’ll live eternally praising and glorifying our holy God.

And all I can say? “Lord Jesus, come quickly!”

Everything Is From God (1 Cor. 4:6-7)

Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively applied to myself and Apollos for your sakes, so that in us you may learn not to exceed what is written, so that no one of you will become arrogant in behalf of one against the other. For who regards you as superior? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as if you had not received it?
(1 Corinthians 4:6-7, NASB)

A couple of days ago, I quoted Psalm 24:1, which says that “The earth is the Lord’s, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.” Everything belongs to our Creator God.

So why do we struggle with pride or arrogance? Why do we look at all the stuff around us and think, “Look at what I have. Look at what I’ve done.” Or at the things we can do and think, "Look at how great I am."

We owe our very lives to God, and if He’s chosen to bless us with earthly treasures, then we should be grateful, not arrogant.

And it’s the same with any spiritual gifts with which He’s chosen to bless us. I have to admit, this is an area I used to struggle with a lot. I’m immensely privileged to often speak and/or sing for women’s events, and for many years, I served on worship teams. It was often all too easy for me to think about those gifts as mine. And when I thought of those gifts as mine, rather than something from God I should steward, I’d think, “I can do that better than she can.”

It’s only when I finally recognized how weak and incapable I am without God’s work in my life—and that everything I have and am is His—that I was able to give whatever gifts He’s given me back to Him. If He chooses to use me to speak or sing, then it’s a blessing. If He chooses not to, then it’s still a blessing. Because He’ll use me in another way.

We can’t take credit for anything. We’ve received everything from God, and it is for His glory that all we have—our time, our talents, and our treasures—should be used.

Our Conquering God (Ps. 47:3-4)

He will subdue the peoples under us,
And the nations under our feet.
He will choose our inheritance for us,
The excellence of Jacob whom He loves. Selah.
(Psalm 47:3-4, NKJV)

One day, the Lord of all creation, the Sovereign King of the universe will reign. Everyone will acknowledge Him as the one true God—Father, Son, and Spirit.

Paul wrote these words of affirmation: One day “at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Phil. 2:10-11). Every knee will one day bow, Christ-follower or not. Jesus Himself said that many would one day call Him “Lord,” but would not truly know Him (see Matt. 7:21-23).

God will conquer and “subdue the peoples.” And those of us who follow Him, those of us who are His children through the death and resurrection of the Son, will inherit eternal life. We will spend eternity with our Lord and Savior. We too will be “more than conquerors through Him who loved us” (Rom. 8:37).

So as we live our day-to-day, moment-by-moment lives, we can be confident that we’re on the winning team. We don’t have to worry about this world and its sins. We can be assured by the words of Jesus: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).