Be Mindful, Be Ready, Be Diligent: Peter’s Final Reminders
As we wrap up the second epistle of Peter, we encounter a dying apostle’s final words to the church. Peter knows his death is imminent, and like a loving father preparing his family for his departure, he leaves three crucial reminders that remain just as relevant for believers today.
What Does It Mean to Be Mindful?
Peter begins with a call to “be mindful” – a phrase meaning to recall or return to one’s mind, to remind oneself of something important. Just as we need constant reminders in our daily lives to stay organized and on track, believers need regular reminders of God’s truth.
Why Do We Need Spiritual Reminders?
Peter writes to stir up their “pure minds by way of reminder” so they would be mindful of the words spoken by the holy prophets and the commandments of the apostles. The key insight here is simple: if we’re calling something back to mind, it first had to be there. This means we must fill our minds with God’s Word before we can recall it in times of need. The best way to identify a crooked stick is to first know what a straight stick looks like. Similarly, to recognize false teaching, we must be thoroughly familiar with true doctrine.
What Are We Supposed to Remember?
Peter specifically calls believers to remember two things: – The words spoken by the holy prophets – The commandments of the apostles of the Lord and Savior This isn’t just about memorizing verses – it’s about having our minds saturated with Scripture so that God’s truth shapes our thinking, decisions, and responses to life’s challenges.
Why Must We Be Ready?
Scoffers Are Coming
Peter warns that “scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts.” These aren’t just intellectual skeptics – they’re people who attack God’s Word because it threatens their lifestyle. They ask mockingly, “Where is the promise of His coming?” These scoffers exist today in every sphere of life: teachers, politicians, coworkers, friends, and family members. Their motivation isn’t purely intellectual curiosity but a desire to live according to their own desires without divine accountability.
What Do Scoffers Willfully Forget?
Peter identifies two crucial truths that scoffers deliberately ignore: **First, they forget their Creator.** The evidence of design is overwhelming – from the 1.5 to 2 gigabytes of information contained in every cell’s DNA to the intricate complexity of life itself. If there’s design, there must be a designer. You were created on purpose and for a purpose. **Second, they forget God’s past judgment.** The worldwide flood wasn’t just a local event – it was God’s judgment on humanity’s sin. Over 200 cultures worldwide have flood narratives, suggesting a common historical memory of this global catastrophe.
How Should We Respond to God’s Patience?
Understanding God’s Timing
Peter explains that “with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” God isn’t slow or lazy about His promises – He’s patient. His delay in judgment isn’t weakness but grace.
God’s Heart for the Lost
The reason for God’s patience is beautiful: He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” God’s will for your life isn’t complicated – He doesn’t want you to perish. He wants you to come to repentance through faith in Jesus Christ.
What Does It Mean to Be Diligent?
Living in Light of Christ’s Return
Since Christ will return “as a thief in the night” and all earthly things will be dissolved, Peter asks: “What manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness?” Our lives should be characterized by: – **Holy conduct** in the world – how we live our daily lives in our workplaces, relationships, and communities – **Godliness** in our fellowship – how we treat our brothers and sisters in Christ
Hastening the Day of God
Remarkably, believers can actually hasten the coming of the Lord through evangelism. As we share the gospel and people come to faith, we’re contributing to the “fullness of the Gentiles” that God is waiting for before Christ’s return.
What Is Our Ultimate Hope?
Despite the coming judgment, believers have an incredible promise: a new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells. In this new creation, there will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain. God Himself will dwell with His people, and He will make all things new.
How Do We Grow in Grace?
Peter’s final encouragement is to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” This doesn’t mean God’s grace increases – it’s already infinite. Rather, we grow in our understanding and experience of that boundless grace. We’re called to know Jesus not just as a historical figure, but as our risen Lord and Savior, the King who deserves all honor and glory.
Life Application
Peter’s dying words challenge us to live with eternal perspective. This week, commit to filling your mind with God’s Word through daily Bible reading and meditation. When scoffers question your faith, remember that you serve the Creator who has already demonstrated His judgment and promised His return. Be diligent in your conduct – both in how you live in the world and how you love your fellow believers. Share the gospel with those around you, knowing that each person who comes to faith hastens the day of Christ’s return. **Questions for Reflection:** – Is my mind truly filled with God’s Word, or do I need to be more intentional about Bible study? – How does the reality of Christ’s return affect my daily decisions and priorities? – Am I living in a way that demonstrates holy conduct to the watching world? – Who in my life needs to hear the gospel, and how can I share it with them this week?
