by Jeremy Lallier

In our Daily Bible Verse Blog post about Ephesians 5:16, we discussed how our approach toward “redeeming the time” depends on our perspective of time. So how’s this for perspective? Everything physical will be destroyed by fire.

The apostle Peter tells us that everything physical “will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). Not one scrap of this physical world will survive. It’s all literally going up in flames.

But the reason for this scripture isn’t to be a downer. Peter mentions it to provide perspective: Because nothing physical in this world is permanent, we should not make physical things our primary focus. It’s true that nothing tangible will survive the melting of the universe, but something far more precious will—our personal character.

Peter continues, “Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:11-13, emphasis added).

If we are redeeming the time, then we ought to be striving for “holy conduct and godliness.” In other words, we must spend our time developing holy, righteous character.

To understand why God will destroy the physical creation, read “New Heavens and New Earth.”