December 10th - Reflection

2 Peter 3:11-18 (NRSV)
Prepare for the Lord's coming

Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.

Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, speaking of this as he does in all his letters. There are some things in them hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, beware that you are not carried away with the error of the lawless and lose your own stability. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Reflection
We are at the door to eternity. Waiting for that door to open and Jesus return. What more could we do? Knowing that our entrance through this door depends on nothing that we have done but all that Jesus did. All we did was believe. All we did was accept the gracious gift of salvation. What more could we do?

Being at the door to eternity, we respond in joy and thanksgiving. We dig deep into the Word. We seek the Spirit's wisdom and understanding. We look to Jesus for guidance in using, here and now, the spiritual gifts we have been given. We seek in a ravenous fashion all understanding that God would fill us with. And we go quickly with the Spirit to serve and love our neighbor with passion and compassion. And we reach out to all those we meet to articulate our passion for making disciples for Jesus.

We are at the door to eternity. Our message is sure. The need is great. Our response is needed.

At the door to eternity we wait in trust and hope.

At the door to eternity we respond, quickly, passionately and lovingly to the world, this side of that door.

Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, as we wait on this side of that "Door to Eternity" ---we wait in hope---we wait in joy---we wait in fervent work of love for you and your people-- on this side of that door we are both waiting and busy in your love. --- Amen