“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:10-13)
It’s the perennial question parents hear on a car trip of any distance: “Are we there yet?” Obviously not, but it’s a way young passengers voice their anticipation and impatience. They can’t wait to reach the destination and spend vacation time with cousins, aunts and uncles, and grandparents. If only the minutes and miles would go faster!
“Are we there yet” is likewise the longing question of children of God on their journey through life. Jesus says, “Surely I am coming soon.” (Revelation 22:20) The Church answers, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20) We aren’t there yet, but the Day of the Lord will certainly come, as suddenly and unexpectedly as a thief breaking into a home in the middle of the night. Jesus is returning to carry out final judgment and bring this present world to a cataclysmic, fiery end. Isaiah prophesied, “All the host of heaven shall rot away, and the skies roll up like a scroll. All their host shall fall, as leaves fall from the vine, like leaves falling from the fig tree.” (Isaiah 34:4) At the beginning of everything God said, “Let there be.” At the end He will say, “Let there not be!” The entire ordered structure of the universe will disintegrate, from the heavenly bodies above to the earth below and everything on it. Mountains, oceans, and cities with their skyscrapers—all will be torn apart and burned up.
Why would we or anyone eagerly look forward to such horrifying destruction? Saint Paul assured the Thessalonian Christians that on the last day believers will be caught up to meet the Lord in the air and so escape the earth’s destruction. The best is yet to come. The Lord is not coming just to destroy, but to recycle, recreate, rebuild, and renew what has been ruined by sin. It’s not just believers who are looking forward. Paul writes, “In fact, creation is waiting with eager longing for the sons of God to be revealed . . . in the hope that even creation itself will be set free from slavery to corruption, in order to share in the glorious freedom of the children of God. For we know that all of creation is groaning with birth pains right up to the present time.” (Romans 8:19-22 NIV)
“Behold, I am making all things new,” the Lord promises. (Revelation 21:5) He hasn’t revealed the details, but our new home will be awesome beyond imagination! There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain. There will be no more injustice, terrorism, war, or poverty. There will be no sadness, no boredom, no end to the joy of living in a perfect world in the presence of our Savior.
Wouldn’t it be great if we could speed things up? We can. Pray, “Thy kingdom come.” We can let our light shine and spread the news of salvation, for when the Spirit brings the total number of God’s elect to faith, the Day of God will be here. We aren’t there yet, but soon!
“Are we there yet” is likewise the longing question of children of God on their journey through life.
is a retired pastor and former president of the CLC. He lives in Phoenix, Arizona.