Isn't it our nature to trust people? Don't we have the tendency to think most people have our best interests in mind? I think we do. Considering that thought, can we also accept that, because there are false teachers out there and that not everyone may teach the scriptures in truth, we need to know what is in the scriptures?
We better. We are advised in scriptures 2 Timothy 2:15 (American King James) "Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" How do we know if we are being taught by false teachers or those that simply do not know what they are talking about? We have to study for ourselves, as we are now doing. Would you agree that since we have been involved in the 30 days eStudies, we have learned things we weren't aware of before? Perhaps we may have seen things in a way that we have never seen them before or even learned that we had a misunderstanding. What I am saying is the we can only be sure by studying ourselves and by paying close attention to what another is teaching.
If I have this right, I was once taught that in the way old days, that the men would go to the temple to learn and be taught all about the Law. It was their responsibility to then take what they learned and go home and teach their families. As men got busier and busier with work and money making, they hired what we think of as pastors. A pastor would go to school (like the temple teaching of old) learn and then work in a church teaching all that they learned to families. Men basically passed on their job of learning and teaching to others.
If we are not studying, we may never know if what we are being taught is correct, to the point that this part of 2 Peter warns about false teachers. Believe it or not, there are people who disguise themselves as honest teachers but have a desire to mislead or take advantage of us trusting people. So study to handle God's word in truth.
I love chapter 3 because it give insight into what it is that is taking God so long to end all of this suffering and pain of the world. Don't we sometimes think that?
God has tried to get the world's attention over and over again, with floods, famine and even locusts. He keeps on trying. Look to verse 3:8. But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord isn't really being slow about His promise, as some people think. No, He is being PATIENT for your sake. He does not want ANYONE to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. We might think it is taking way too long, but if you were one of the ones He is "patiently" waiting for to repent, that would be a good thing, yes? This verse basically tells us time doesn't matter to God, what matters is that everyone finds salvation and if it takes a while, He will patiently take the time needed. How awesome is that? He then makes that statement again in 3:15 "And remember, our Lord's patience gives people time to be saved". Doesn't this all go back to how much He loves us. He waits patiently to give people time to be saved? How long could we wait? I might have nuked the planet a long time ago not having His level of patience, but that shows us how great and loving our God is.
2 Peter then goes on to describe what the last day will be like giving us instruction of what to do while we are waiting. In verse 3:14 "And so dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in His sight". So live like that, be patient and understand that He is on top of the situation and because He is loving and wants everyone to be saved. Isn't that something to rejoice about?
Chapter 3 then sums it all up by going back to the warning of false teachers and wicked people. We are told to be on guard. Can you picture a sword fighter. They get into a stance at the ready and they say "on guard". Get ready, I am prepared to do battle, so get into a believer's stance daily , be on guard and ready to do battle with the wickedness of the world that would try to draw you into sin, slip and fall.
Be aware of what is going on around you, keep studying the word so that you know what to expect and you know when what is being said to you is truth or not.