I started reading my Bible regularly when I was high school (way back in 1991-1995). Man, does time fly! It has been a part of my daily routine ever since. Over the years, I have read a number of translations: NASB, NIV and ESV primarily. Well, this year, I decided to mix it up and read from The Message version.
The Message version is not a translation of the Bible. It’s not really a thought for thought version either. It is one man’s paraphrase. My copy of The Message doesn’t even have verse references — which makes cross-referencing it to other translations difficult. But, I have enjoyed reading it this year. Peterson’s take on the Bible is thought provoking.
As we are finishing our study of 2 Peter, I read this in chapter three — “Daily expect the Day of God, eager for its arrival. The galaxies will burn up and the elements melt down that day—but we’ll hardly notice. We’ll be looking the other way, ready for the promised new heavens and the promised new earth, all landscaped with righteousness.”
I loved how that was phrased. We’ll hardly notice the galaxies burning up?! Can you imagine that? God will be burning up the galaxies, the total destruction of the universe, and we won’t notice. We’ll be looking the other way — at our new home, the new earth. Even thinking about it now makes my heart jump. Christian, when life has you down this week, remember that we have a glorious future with God in front of us! Fix your attention on that. Can you imagine something so amazing and so awesome, that you hardly notice that the universe is burning up behind you?! That is our future.
Looking forward to that day —
Josh
(If you want a clue on what specific verses I’m talking about, Pastors Bill and Bryan taught on them this weekend!)
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Posted in A Word from the Pastor