When the Fire Comes/ 2 Peter 3:8-10

The scriptures speak of the return of Christ in harrowing terms. He is said to be coming like a thief, like one who will steal our most precious possessions without warning. Indeed, the promise of Christ’s return is a promise that God will finally consume all those things that grab our affections and keep our hearts from him. He will rid the world of the chains that bind us, even if we love those chains. But we need not wait for Christ’s return to begin this liberation. In fact, Christ is waiting to return to give us every chance to develop an appetite for liberation. He is waiting for people to embrace his liberation in a way that will make us embrace his second coming. We were made to live in the love of God. It is our attachment to self-protection that keeps us from receiving that love. But he is waiting, knocking, promising to return. And he bids us to let go, to be exposed, to surrender to his love.