Seeing Ye Know—Beware
Submitted by Scott K. Miller, Associate Pastor
Victory Baptist Temple, Piedmont, MO
June 19, 2025
2Pe 3:17 Ye therefore, beloved, seeing ye know these things before, beware lest ye also, being led away with the error of the wicked, fall from your own stedfastness.
Earlier this spring our community suffered the devastating effects of a tornado. It’s one thing to view the aftermath of a community wrecked and ravaged by a whirlwind on television or the internet; it is quite another to experience it oneself.
Our church suffered the loss of a faithful deacon and his wife who were both active in multiple areas of our ministry. In a moment, their lives and goods were swept away.
Several volunteered to help their children clean up. Sifting through the contents of their life—clothing, shoes, household items, collectibles—all scattered everywhere, I recalled the words of Peter, “Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness…” (vv. 11-12a).
The latter part of verse 10 states: “…the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.” Burned up. A majority of the belongings of these dear folks were gathered and hauled off to be burned.
We all collect things through life, don’t we? We place value on certain gifts given to us by the people we love. Yet, these things can be taken away in a moment. Eventually, all things will be consumed with fervent heat!
We are to BEWARE. We surely do not want to be led away with the ignorance of the wicked. The cataclysmic event of the flood took everything away and the earth was changed. God told Noah before what He would do, and He did it. God never exaggerates.
The wicked are willingly ignorant of a future cataclysmic event of fire that will not only purge the earth but the heavens, as well. God has told us before. We have been warned. Prophecy is given to sanctify our conduct not satisfy our curiosity. Our Lord means what He says. The old will be removed to make room for the grand and glorious new!
Today, instead of focusing on laying up “treasure” on earth, beloved, may our focus be on placing ourselves in the soil of grace in order to grow in Christlikeness (v. 18). Growth in grace and abiding in Christ always leads to laying up proper treasure that never fades!
Consider – A “Beware of Dog” sign can keep a person from harm. God’s “Beware of Loss” sign can keep us without spot and blameless (v. 14).
