The word for this week is "elements". We see it in these verses:
Galatians 4:3 Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world: KJV
Galatians 4:9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage? KJV
2 Peter 3:10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which 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. KJV
2 Peter 3:12 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? KJV
Are You Living Only for Today Or Living Also for Eternity?
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
One day I was standing at the foot of the Great Pyramid of
Giza in Egypt with my wife and sons. We had spent that entire week floating
down the Nile River, touring all the sites of ancient Egypt, many of which were
more than 4,000 years old. We were amazed at how well the condition of these
ancient locations had been preserved. Finally we stood at the foot of the
ancient, massive Great Pyramid of Giza. It, too, was in marvelous condition,
considering that it had been standing there for so many thousands of years. It
was very evident that the Great Pyramid had been built solidly so it would
stand as an eternal remembrance to the Egyptian king who built it.
As I stood there with my family, I told my sons, “This
pyramid has stood here for thousands of years, but a day is coming in the
future when it will be completely dissolved. When the final Day of the Lord
comes, the Bible tells us that everything that exists on the earth will melt
with fervent heat, and the earth and all its works will be burned up. Boys,
that means a day is coming when none of these monuments will exist any longer.
Everything built by man will vanish, including these monuments that have stood
the test of time for thousands of years. The only thing that will last is what
people have done for Jesus Christ.”
The scripture I referred to as I talked to my sons was
Second Peter 3:10. This verse says that when the Day of the Lord comes, “…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.”
According to Peter, when the Day of the Lord comes at the
very end of the age, everything we presently see and know will be changed. Even
the heavens as we currently know them will pass away. The words “pass away” are
from the Greek word parerchomai, which pictures something that is
temporary and will soon be passing away. Peter says that the present heavens
will pass away with a “great noise.” The words “great noise” are from the Greek
word hroidzedon. This word describes a sound so loud that it is
nearly deafening to those who hear it. It further carries the idea of a
tremendous hissing, sizzling, cracking sound that rushes all about or a
noise so thunderous that no one can escape it.
When these events transpire, the heavens and all “the
elements” shall melt with a fervent heat. The word “elements” is the Greek
word stoicheion, and it refers to everything that exists — from
the heavenly bodies in the sky overhead to the mountains, the earth, the
buildings constructed by man, and even the smallest atomic particles.
Absolutely nothing will survive the transforming, purifying fire that will melt
everything.
The word “melt” in this verse is from the Greek word luo,
which normally means to loose. But in this case, it pictures the
dissolving of matter and the complete dissolution of the earth’s
elements.
This melting of the elements will occur because of a
“fervent heat” that will be manifested on the Day of the Lord. The words
“fervent heat” come from the Greek word kausoomai, which depicts a
fire so intense that nothing escapes its blaze. It was used by medical writers
to convey the idea of a fever that consumed a victim. This is an intense,
raging, blazing, blistering, burning fire that consumes and hence purges everything
it touches. Absolutely nothing will survive this fire when Jesus purifies this
present world and creates a new heaven and a new earth.
I spoke these words to my sons because I wanted them to know
that the only thing to survive this life will be what we do for Jesus Christ.
We tend to think that our houses, buildings, and the things we construct in
life will live forever. But the truth is, even the structures that are built to
survive through the ages of time will eventually pass away. Since only that
which is done for eternity will outlast this world, we can see why Peter asked
the question, “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).
A day is coming when all the material possessions you own
and hold to be dear will be “dissolved.” The word “dissolved” is from the Greek
word luo, which is the same word mentioned above in Second Peter 3:10 to
describe the complete dissolution of everything that presently exists. By
using this word, Peter alerts us to the fact that nothing we presently own will
last forever. In light of this truth, how should we view our material
possessions, and how should we prioritize our lives?
Too often we devote the bulk of our time to our homes,
gardens, cars, businesses, or other worldly affairs. Although we must give
attention to the basic things that are necessary to life, we make a huge
mistake if we focus on these temporal matters while neglecting the eternal
spiritual issues that will pass from this life into the next. Only what is done
for the Lord will last. Everything else will be left behind in a world that
will one day be consumed with a fervent heat. Since everything will be
dissolved, as Peter tells us, doesn’t it make sense that we invest in our
spiritual futures as well as in our present lives?
How should this knowledge affect the way you live? Peter
asked, “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of
persons ought ye to be…?” In other words, since the heavens and the earth and
everything in them are temporary and will one day pass away, what should have
your greatest attention and devotion?
Unsaved men in today’s world live for the present. Often
they do great philanthropic works because they want their names to be
remembered in future generations. Their desire is to have people revere them,
place their names on buildings, name streets after them, and so forth.
However, every building that bears a person’s name will one
day evaporate. The pyramids that have stood before us for centuries will one
day be gone. Those who live only for the present or to impress men will be the
greatest losers of all, for everything they have lived for will burn up and
pass away, never to be remembered again. On the other hand, those who live for
eternity, walk by faith, and obey what the Word of God tells them to do will
make a name for themselves that will be remembered in Heaven for all of
eternity. These are the biggest winners in life!
The message I conveyed to my sons that day in front of the
pyramids is the same message I want to impress upon you today: Take the
time to consider your priorities in life. Are you investing in eternity,
or are you consumed with natural things that won’t survive that consuming fire,
which will one day melt everything that exists? Since what you do for Jesus is
the only thing that will survive, don’t you think it would be wise to
prayerfully consider your life to see if you are investing as much in eternity
as you are investing in the present?
No matter where we are in life, or what we all are doing at the moment, when JESUS appears for us, none of this will be what is on our minds and hearts! Knowing this, as we go about our daily lives, we should always be aware of the importance of our fellowship with HIM! When JESUS is our top priority, it will make everything else we are involved with fall into proper perspective. It will also allow us to enjoy every aspect of this life to the fullest! I have often heard this saying: "It doesn't cost to serve the Lord, it pays". THIS would be that result. I hope that you all are really enjoying your blessed life as much as it appears that you are! It is a joy to see the things that you and Kristine share and to feel a part of it all! Know that we are praying for you all every day and believing God with you for all of your dreams and goals to be fulfilled beyond all that you can imagine! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with a new song called "Indescribable":
Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!
