6月6日

標 題：你的為人當如何？

經節：這一切既然都要如此銷化，你們為人該當怎樣聖潔，怎樣敬虔。（彼得後書三章11節）

當神告訴亞伯拉罕自己準備摧毀所多瑪和蛾摩拉，亞伯拉罕的生命立即徹底地受到影響。當挪亞聽到神對自己世代的計劃時，他無法再繼續進行日常的生活秩序。知道神預備要審判基督徒的事實，會幫助我們分辨什麼會幫助我們分辨什麼事有永恆的重要性，及什麼事沒有永恆的重要性。

彼得警告我們，末日審判的時刻將要來到。當主來的日子，天必大有響聲，有形質的都要被烈火銷化。他警告在那天全地都要被燒盡。彼得向我們保證，這不是憑空臆測，這件事肯定會發生，並且即將快要發生。他隨後問了個很重要的問題，這個問題也可以被應用到後世後代。他的問題是：「你們為人該當怎樣？」面對我們前面的審判與無數人面臨的毀滅，我們應當如何度過此生？

許多基督徒花了極多時間、精力追求短暫的事物。嗜好和財產銷化我們，使我們只投資一點點的時間與精力在永恆的事物。基督徒應該比其他人更敏銳地注意自己生活的時代。倘若神將要審判世人，我們應該要緊緊與神同行，好能夠警告人們那即將來到的審判。基督似乎遲延祂自己再來的日子，其實祂不是耽延，乃是寬容我們，不願有一人沉淪（彼得後書三：9）。我們豈不該投資在創建神永恆國度的事工上嗎？我們豈不該完成神所交付的任務嗎？

What Manner of Person Ought You to Be?

Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness? (2 Peter 3:11)

When God told Abraham He was going to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham's life was immediately and radically affected. Noah could not carry on business as usual once he knew what God was planning for his generation. Knowing that God is preparing judgment brings a sobering reality to Christians, helping us recognize what is eternally significant and what is not.

Peter cautions us that a catastrophic time of judgment is coming. On the day of the Lord there will be a great noise, and the elements will melt with a fervent heat. On that day, he warns, the earth will be consumed. Peter assures us that this is not mere speculation; it is certain and imminent. He then asks the crucial question that applies to each generation: "What kind of persons ought you to be?" With judgment pending for us and countless millions of people facing destruction, how should we live our lives?

Many Christians attach great value to temporal things. Hobbies and possessions consume us, leaving little time or energy to invest in what is eternal. More than anyone else, Christians should be sensitive to the times in which we live. We should walk so closely with God that if He were preparing to bring judgment upon people, we could warn those in imminent peril. Since Christ has been long-suffering in His return so that no one might perish (2 Pet. 3:9), should we not invest our effort in building God's eternal kingdom? Should there not be an urgency about us to complete the tasks that God gives us?