Tour guides crack me up!  As a former public school teacher who has experienced many field trips with students, the rehearsed prepared material given to tour guides, complete with lame jokes, that is embedded into their being is most times intriguing and educational.  But sometimes, if the person hasn’t really studied the script and goes off the script, the presentation is less than stellar.  I have experienced both.

I still enjoy a good tour with someone “in the know”.  I love the real stories of history—the struggles along with the achievements.  I love to walk where others walked and hear how they learned to live their lives as great contributors to our world’s needs. I also enjoy the tour guide who keeps us moving along so we don’t linger too long in one spot when there is so much to see and learn!  “And we’re walking…”

Peter is our tour guide of “The Last Days”.  I hear him moving us along in our faith and hope of Jesus’ return.  “And we’re walking…” in the knowledge of what we know now with spiritual hunger and thirst, deep in our souls, to know more.  Peter guides us through what he knows, from his point of reference…”as one who has been with Jesus”.  (See also Acts 4)

“When you least expect it, expect it” is what we tell others when playing a game of comeback.  But Peter is telling us no one will know, only God knows when Jesus will come back to claim His own.  But we do know this:  Jesus IS coming back.  Our tour guide of the last days is confident of this truth as told to him by Jesus, Himself.  Jesus is our hope of eternal life. Our Hope is coming when God says it is time. 

Why the wait?  Our tour guide has the answer: “He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.” 

And we’re walking…with God, in relationship with Him because of Jesus Christ, who brought us together, saving us from all sin. 

And we’re walking daily, “holding our minds in a state of undistracted attention” to Jesus.

And we’re walking, while “God is poised, ready to speak his word again, ready to give the signal for the judgment and destruction of the desecrating skeptics”.

And we’re walking until the unannounced announcement of Jesus’ return is announced!  We keep moving along in obedience to our Master Tour Guide.  Our tour on earth is brief and temporary.  This world is not our final destination.  Our walk with Jesus is forever.  And we’re walking…in the Light of His glory and grace!

“So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace. Interpret our Master’s patient restraint for what it is: salvation. “

And we’re walking, growing in grace, watching for Jesus return!  Yes, and Amen!

PETER—THE ROCK

2 Peter 3, The Message

In the Last Days

3 ^1-2 My dear friends, this is now the second time I’ve written to you, both letters reminders to hold your minds in a state of undistracted attention. Keep in mind what the holy prophets said, and the command of our Master and Savior that was passed on by your apostles.

^3-4 First off, you need to know that in the last days, mockers are going to have a heyday. Reducing everything to the level of their petty feelings, they’ll mock, “So what’s happened to the promise of his Coming? Our ancestors are dead and buried, and everything’s going on just as it has from the first day of creation. Nothing’s changed.”

^5-7 They conveniently forget that long ago all the galaxies and this very planet were brought into existence out of watery chaos by God’s word. Then God’s word brought the chaos back in a flood that destroyed the world. The current galaxies and earth are fuel for the final fire. God is poised, ready to speak his word again, ready to give the signal for the judgment and destruction of the desecrating skeptics.

The Day the Sky Will Collapse

^8-9 Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.

¹⁰ But when the Day of God’s Judgment does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief. The sky will collapse with a thunderous bang, everything disintegrating in a raging inferno, earth and all its works exposed to the scrutiny of Judgment.

^11-13 Since everything here today might well be gone tomorrow, do you see how essential it is to live a holy life? Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day—but we’ll hardly notice. We’ll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness.

* * *

^14-16 So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace. Interpret our Master’s patient restraint for what it is: salvation. Our good brother Paul, who was given much wisdom in these matters, refers to this in all his letters, and has written you essentially the same thing. Some things Paul writes are difficult to understand. Irresponsible people who don’t know what they are talking about twist them every which way. They do it to the rest of the Scriptures, too, destroying themselves as they do it.

^17-18 But you, friends, are well-warned. Be on guard lest you lose your footing and get swept off your feet by these lawless and loose-talking teachers. Grow in grace and understanding of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Glory to the Master, now and forever! Yes!

Thank you, Peter!  You are greatest tour guide of all! 

Lord,

Thank you for reminding us to keep walking, moving along, growing in our faith as we wait for you to come.  It is in the waiting that we are growing and learning.  It is in the waiting that we must be tour guides for others walking in wrong direction, away from the knowledge of You, the Truth.  Help us to point people to you! Keep me alert.  Help me to be on guard, recognizing and measuring your truth against all that is not.  Continue to teach and transform me.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen