Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished: 2 Peter 3:6
I was never a scoffer as we read about in 2 Peter 3: (emphasis mine)
Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 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 the creation. 2 Peter 3: 3-4
I was fearful. Yes, fearful that the Lord would return and I would not be ready.
One night I was literally scared out of my mind. I was 11 years old and the high school team of the school I attended was playing in the Football State Championship. We had home field advantage. Pretty much the whole town turned out to watch the game that night. At least everyone but my dad. He stayed at home to watch TV while my mom took us all to the game.
It was a beautiful, clear night. In the middle of the game, something crazy happened. The lights went out. Boom! It was dark!
My immediate thought as an 11 year old was that the Lord had returned. That was why the lights went out. Right?? My struggle with great conviction was real!!
This is what I did know. My dad had been very vocal about his salvation from sin and hell. He shared his amazing testimony often. If we could just get home and if my dad was sitting in his chair, then I could be certain that the Lord had not returned and I had not been left behind. I knew dad was on his way to heaven and I knew Jesus would not leave my dad behind.
My mom gathered us all up that night. A decision had been made to move the game to the next town over, but we were going home. I was so glad. I needed to see my dad.
Upon our arrival at home, I jumped out of the car. I could not get into the house fast enough. My dad was not in his chair in front of the TV. Frantically, I began to call out, “Dad!! DAD!!!”
Coming down the hall my Dad responded, “Janice, what is wrong!?!” I mumbled something about the lights going out at the game. In my heart I was overjoyed to see my dad.
And what caused the lights to go off on a clear, fall night? An accident. Well really it was two accidents. A man was home cleaning his gun. Unfortunately the gun was loaded so it went off. The bullet went through the wall and hit his pregnant wife. An ambulance was called. As the ambulance was rushing the lady to the hospital it swerved off the road near the school and hit a light pole causing the lights to go out on that side of town. This could have been a huge tragedy for our small town, but thankfully, the lady and baby were both fine.
What an eventful night! Especially for a fearful junior age girl who did believe in the return of Christ, but was not yet saved.
Since that time, I have learned that this kind of believing in God without receiving His gift of salvation leads to fear.
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. James 2:19 (emphasis mine)
I lived in fear of dying for about 5 years, but I am not that same fearful girl today. I have sweet assurance I am going to Heaven when I die having received Christ as my Savior when I was 16 years old. Oh how I thank God for a church that preached the gospel and taught us Jesus Christ could return at any moment! I believed He would come and eventually received His free gift of eternal life.
Sadly, there are scoffers in our world. Just as there were scoffers in the days of Noah. These scoffers are false teachers that cause others to doubt that Jesus is coming again. But just as sure as there was a flood that overflowed and destroyed the entire world, Jesus is coming again. A song I learned years ago says it best.
I tell you it's gonna rain
It's gonna rain
It won't be water but fire the next time.
~Written by: DARRYL CARTER, BOBBY WOMAC
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? 2 Peter 3:11-12
Keeping our hearts and minds focused on the imminent return of Christ will compel us to live a holy and godly life in which we lay up true treasure in heaven. Treasure that will not be dissolved in the fervent heat that is to come. There is no need to live in fear. Believe and receive!
Be ready, watching and waiting for Jesus to come again!