2 Peter 3:7 7But now the heavens and earth by the same word having been reserved are being kept for fire for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly people.
God’s word is all-powerful. When God speaks, the words that proceed accomplish that which is intended. In its opening verses in Genesis, the Bible records the power of God’s word. When God gives a promise or warning, we can be sure it will come to pass. The stories of the Bible record the proof that we can build our lives on. In verses 5-6, Peter reflected on the past events of creation in Genesis 1 and the great flood in Genesis 6 to show the power of God’s word. Verse 7 looks to the future with a prophetic word of warning. We get a glimpse of how judgment will take place through fire. The early Christians believed that Jesus will return with blazing fire (2 Thessalonians 1:7; Hebrews 10:27). Peter develops this idea further in the following verses. Fire is used in the Bible as a symbol of cleansing (Malachi 3:2-3; Zechariah 13:9). The fire at the end of time will cleanse creation of evil and ungodliness. It will mark a time of recreation and renewal with Jesus as the King and Lord of all.
We live in a time of grace when the gospel is going out into the world. Now is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). A time will come, however, when humanity will be judged. This verse serves as a warning against ungodly people. “Ungodliness” (asebōn) is the opposite of piety, love, and devotion to God. The ungodly give no care to the things of God and ignore God’s commands. The false teachers about whom Peter writes distorted the gospel, particularly by denying the second coming of Jesus. Some people today are similar and have departed from orthodox Christianity by distorting the gospel, which shows up in their immoral behavior. They live as if there is no God. Sadly, their destiny is destruction. “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). This verse should be enough to arouse us from spiritual laziness and apathy and cause us to refocus on what matters most in life.