The key word in 2 Peter 3:8-14 is “look.” It describes an attitude of excitement and expectation as we wait for the Lord’s return. Since the world and its works will be dissolved and even the very elements will be disintegrated, we fix our hope, not on anything in this world, but on the Lord. Because we neither know the day nor the hour of His return, we must constantly be ready. The Christian who neglects the “blessed hope”(Titus 2:13) will gradually develop a cold heart, a worldly attitude and an unfaithful life. If he is not careful, he may even become like the scoffers and laugh at the promise of Christ’s return. Therefore, this expectant attitude ought to make a difference in our personal conduct (2 Peter 3:11). The word translated “manner” literally means, “out of this world, foreign.” Because we have “escaped the corruption that is in this world” (1:4), we must live differently from the people of this world. To the world, Christians behave like “foreigners.” Why? Because this world is not our home! We are “strangers and pilgrims” (1 Peter 2:1) headed for a better world, the eternal city of God. We are looking for “a city which hath foundations, whose builder and make is God, ”because, here we have “no continuing city, but we seek one to come” (Hebrews 11:10; 13:14). Therefore, “what manner of person ought we to be?”
We ought to be STEADFAST (1 Corinthians 15:58; 1 Peter 5:8-9). We must maintain steadfastness in the “apostles doctrine, fellowship, breaking of bread and prayer,” as did the early Christians (Acts 2:42).
We ought to be FORGIVING (Ephesians 4:32; Luke 23:34). The Indians of New England had a means of ending conflict. They would meet with the opponents—dig a deep hole on the battlefield—take two hatchets—put them in the hole and cover them up. Therefore, we have the phrase, “bury the hatchet” (Romans 12:18).
We ought to HUNGER for God’s Word (Matthew 5:6; Psalm 1:1-3; 119). So many are suffering from spiritual deficiency. They are starving for the nourishing Word of God. Their bodies are in shambles. Just as the physical body needs a steady diet of food, the soul needs a steady diet of Bible.
We ought to be EVANGELISTIC (Mark 16:15). In this passage, Jesus gave the apostles a command to obey. This was a command, not a suggestion. One man said, “Interest in missions is not an elective in God’s university of grace. It is something in which every disciple is expected to major.”
We ought to SEEK FIRST God’s kingdom and righteousness (Matthew 6:33). In light of the fact that this world and the things associated with it will be dissolved, we should live our lives seeking first the kingdom of God and His righteousness – that is, having holy conduct and godliness.
Christians should be different, not odd. When you are different, you attract.
