Poof!

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Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness … (2 Peter 3:11)

When God completed His work of creation, He declared it all “very good” (Genesis 1:31).  This very good creation was perfect in every way – no struggle to survive, no striving to get ahead, no tears, no sweat, no death.  In fact, this perfect creation fit the description of heaven found in Revelation 21 and 22 including the tree of life (Revelation 22:2; Genesis 2:9).  Then sin entered, and the curse of death was brought upon all of creation (Genesis 3:17-19). 

God’s perfect creation has been severely marred; and His perfection cannot abide imperfection indefinitely.  He must restore His creation.  The day is coming when “the Lord will come as a thief in the night; … the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10).  All the material stuff that we experience will be gone in a flash.  All will go up in smoke!

Yet the world tenaciously clings to materialism in every form that it manifests itself.  This is why Jesus cautioned:  “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth … But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven … for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matthew 6:19-21).  All that the world has to offer is an illusion; “And the world passeth away and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 John 2:17). 

So as we are “Looking for and hastening 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” (v. 12), “what manner of persons ought ye to be in all [set-apart living] and godliness?” (v. 11).  Our aim should focus on that “city which had foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Hebrews 11:10).