God's Guarantee

“But according to His promise we are waiting for new heavens and new earth in which righteousness dwells” (v13).

“We’re going to win on Sunday. I guarantee it.” Those were the words of Broadway Joe Namath just before Super Bowl III. It’s never a good idea to promise a victory in sports. It’s even more ridiculous to do it when you’re a massive underdog to the Baltimore Colts, a team some believed to be the greatest in pro football history. But whaddaya know, Joe Willie led the New York Jets to one of the greatest upsets of all time. And his prediction became known as “The Guarantee.” 

While Broadway Joe’s guarantee is pretty amazing, it’s nothing compared to what Jesus has promised. Christ pledged to His posse to return. You see, He’s not done yet. He’s got a spectacular encore in store. There will be a galactic fireworks display (3:10, 12). He’s going to use fire to burn it up and burn it down. Think of it like a universe-wide autoclave, sterilizing and purifying away all the filth and sin from every corner of His creation. And this isn’t just idle talk. It’s not a just a random thought. More than a good idea. This is a promise. A promise made by Jesus. When He says He will do something, He will do it. Take it to the bank. His promises aren’t like my lame guarantees. I do everything I can to keep my word, but I still fail to deliver on a regular basis. It’s nothing compared to God’s guarantee.

God makes many promises in His Word. Let’s check a few to see how well He comes through. The Father pledged humanity that He would one day send His promised Messiah. He first made this vow to our first parents in the opening pages of the Bible (Gen 3:15). Check. He promises to bless the world through Abraham (Gen 12:2-3). Check. He promises to send the Holy Spirit (Jn 14:16). Check. The Bible bulges with God’s guarantees. They’re everywhere. And if they haven’t come true yet, it’s only a matter of time. Earlier in this very same letter, Peter writes that God has given us everything we’ll ever need to live a godly life through “His precious and very great promises” (1:3-4). What God promises, He delivers. 

Here, Pete is talking about Jesus’ promise to return to punish evil and make everything perfect once again. Or as the apostle writes, “We are waiting for new heavens and a new earth” (v13). He actually makes this guarantee first through Isaiah the prophet. “For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth” (Is 65:17). And in the thrilling conclusion of Scripture, Pete’s buddy John gets a glimpse of the very same thing. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first earth had passed away” (Rev 21:1). After Jesus burns up the heavens and the earth, He’s going to recreate them. The Greek word for “new” (Gr. kainos) doesn’t just mean hot off the presses and recently made. These new heavens and this new earth are completely different from what we have now. Unprecedented. Unheard of. Uncommon. God’s not just flipping the joint like an old fixer-upper on HGTV. This is new construction. Fabulous new construction. Bel Air looks like a cardboard box compared to what Jesus is building. 

Those of us who trust in Jesus won’t be the only ones shacking up in these new digs. This is a place “in which righteousness dwells” (v13). Our risen Savior will be there living with us. Jesus promised His boys that He was coming back for them after He did a little work getting things ready. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may also be” (Jn 14:3). A lot of folks think that heaven is our final destination to hang with Christ. Nope. Ultimately, Jesus is crafting a brand spanking new heaven and earth for us where we’ll live with Him forever. It will be the address “in which righteousness dwells” (v13).

So what good does this do for you and me as we tap our toes and wait for Christ’s big comeback? Pete tells us that this is the perfect opportunity to live lives that look completely different from the rest of our culture. He calls them “lives of holiness and godliness” (3:11). Since God is going to burn it up and burn it down, my life should stand out. Next we need to remember that no matter how bad things are or good things get, God guarantees an amazing eternity for those who trust in Jesus. For believers, this is as close to hell as we ever get. For those who reject the Good News, this is as close to heaven as they ever get. Finally we should remember that God doesn’t just keep some of His promises. He keeps every last one of them. If something He’s promised hasn’t happened, the only question is when not if. Hey, Broadway Joe's bold prediction was pretty cool. But that's sandlot stuff compared to Jesus' promise to return. Take this one to the bank. It’s God’s guarantee.