First, I want you to read all of 2 Peter 3.

3 Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), ² that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us,^[a] the apostles of the Lord and Savior, ³ knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, ⁴ and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” ⁵ For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, ⁶ by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. ⁷ But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

⁸ But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us,^[b]not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

The Day of the Lord

¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.^[c] 11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, ¹² looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? ¹³ Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

Be Steadfast

¹⁴ Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; ¹⁵ and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, ¹⁶ as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

¹⁷ You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked;¹⁸ but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen. (2 Peter 3, NKJV)

As you all know this passage deals with the times we now live in and, in particular, with the second coming of Christ. I want you to pay particular attention to verse 12. How is it that we Christians can “hasten” the coming of the LORD?

Remember that Jesus made it very clear that he would save every one of his sheep. Will he or will he not? Was Judas one of his sheep? I submit to you that he was not. He did not overcome in the time allotted to him. He followed the deceits of Satan and he failed. He became a “son of perdition” even as most who walk the earth today are.

The Bible was not written to save men’s spirits. By Christ’s sacrificial death on the tree he effected spiritual salvation for all men. The Bible was written in order to bring men to faith in Jesus Christ so that they could “receive power to become sons of God.” (John 1:12) God sent his prophets so that a man might save his soul. Ezekiel makes it very clear that all men will know that God is God after they die, just as the men in “prison” so understood when Jesus went to preach to them after his crucifixion. That is not the issue. God sent his word so that men would repent and seek his face before their death. Only then could they save their souls, become an overcomer, and one day be accounted a true son of God.

Peter speaks directly to overcomers in his books, just as do all God’s prophets, for they are the only ones who hear. Peter warns overcomers to get their acts together and so hasten the return of Christ. Have you considered that you, yes you, could actually be hindering the coming of Christ. Is that why his coming seems so late? Peter says we each ought to be persons of holy conduct and godliness. Are we?

What do we watch on television, the movies, or the internet? What do we say in private? Do we charge others interest when we loan them money? What do we set our minds upon when we are not acting religious? Do we still gossip and slander our neighbor? Do we prioritize making money rather than making ourselves holy?

Jesus will lose none of his sheep. Are you one of his sheep? Are you still lagging behind the fold, caught up in the ways of the world? Have you refused to leave Babylon and all her pleasures? If so, I suggest to you that you are delaying the coming of Christ.

Yesterday the prophetess (my wife) warned me that we were allowing dissipation in our home by allowing our 21 and 23 year old children to watch movies on the internet. They always think their choices are good and they assure us they “speed up” or “skip” any inappropriate parts. She suggested that we begin again to read the Bible or other good books after dinner as a family, or to sing psalms. “Where do we draw the line,” I said. Do we just begin to eat locusts and wild honey as did John the Baptist, the greatest among men?”

I do not have all the answers, but I do know the prophetess was right. We began to read a new book together and will continue with making changes. It is easy to settle into bad habits that do not glorify or exalt Christ. I am not putting a law on you telling you what you must do. Each of us must be led of the Holy Spirit so that we continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our LORD Jesus and so hasten his coming.

I believe that Jesus is waiting now until each one of his sheep is ready. Are you one of his sheep?