2 Peter 3:13

Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Life is full of anticipations. We are excited for some of these planned expectancies like our next golf round, birthdays, vacations, graduations, retirement, and births to name a few. We dread other events such as dentist or doctor appointments, weekend office work or that project the spouse planned for next month. The unexpected causes much of this dread in our minds. When we were younger, death was one of those events because we had yet to live long enough to be cognizant of the limitations in this life. Death is not something greatly looked forward to at any age, but we the longer we live, the more we come to an acceptance and even come to anticipate.

Sometimes the events we anticipate the most results in unexpected and undesired circumstances. A few years ago, a group of my friends planned a golfing trip to Bandon Dunes golf resort in Oregon nearly a year in advance. Much preparation and planning was made to make this trek seamless. The flights, the shuttle to the course, and the tee times went off without a hitch. Little did we know that the three days of golf would be played in 40 mph winds, blinding fog, and driving rain at least 70% of the time. The trip was certainly memorable, but it hardly went as desired or expected. As much as we are able to plan, our foresight and control have barriers.

In 2 Peter 3:13, we are given the reason for the believer’s greatest anticipation – righteousness. We make these strivings in our everyday life through our justification by Christ, but fall short of the true righteousness to come. All of our “good” comes only through the righteousness of Christ.

Following these earthly anticipated events, there is a feeling of happiness which quickly turns to the fact we just got older, we can’t play golf as good as we thought, and this project led to another renovation. There is no finality or everlasting joy from any earthly activity. As much as we plan and physically try to make something “perfect”, we realize the fault of our flesh and it’s limitations.

Imperfection and disappointment are the promises of everything under our physical control. In verse 14, we are told to be in great anticipation of this great expectation of a deliverance through Christ. “Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” We are not to be disappointed and consider it a failure if Christ does not return today. His long suffering should give us great hope and expectation for the salvation of our friends and family who depend and thrive upon earthly happiness. Part of our witness is our excitement and great anticipation for the soon culmination of our promise of eternal salvation.