2 Peter 1:1 – Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
Things in our world are going from bad to worse, which is new to us but not new to God. God has faithfully led His people through the same kind of chaos and crisis that is being experienced by everyone globally and endured by you personally.
In 1 Peter 1:6, “various trials” were referenced. Practically, this means that the Christians and their churches were in a tough season with hardship on every side. By the end of his first letter, Peter prophesied the coming “fiery trials” (4:12). In our day, like Peter’s, it’s going to go from bad to worse. You need to know that not to scare you, but to prepare you.
The reason Peter wrote his second letter is because things were getting worse. The economic and military world superpower of the day, the Roman Empire, was in the process of self-destructing. Politically, the demonic Nero was rising to power. Economically, a financial crisis ensued when much of the city of Rome burned to the ground. Socially, the people were fed up and rioting in the streets. Physically, Christians were dying in brutal ways. Racially, the diverse nation was divided and at war. Spiritually, the demonic forces bringing death and destruction were seeking to do the same to the churches of Jesus Christ.
Sound familiar?
God never promises to deliver His people from this season of crisis or give them a way around it. No, God’s people need to go through their version of the valley of the shadow of death just as Jesus did.
For starters, Peter reminds them and us that over this life is our God, Jesus Christ, and walking with us through this life is Jesus our Savior. You are not alone, and you are not without hope or help. That is how we begin to rise up in a world that is falling down.
What “fiery trial” are you experiencing right now? How can you trust Jesus over it and follow Jesus through it?
To download the free e-book Power Under Pressure which is a study in 2 Peter for individuals, groups, and families from Pastor Mark click HERE. To listen to Pastor Mark’s 4 sermons on 2 Peter preached in the summer of 2020, visit realfaith.com. These and other resources are made possible by our ministry partners who support Real Faith as a Bible teaching ministry of Mark Driscoll Ministries to whom we say THANK YOU!