2 Peter 3:9
New Living Translation
“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.”
Peter is writing this second letter to
an unspecified group of believers. It
comes roughly 2-3 years after his first letter. This portion of his letter
speaks of Christ’s Return. It should be
noted that The Last Days prior to the
catching away or rapture of the church as spoken of in scripture began once
Jesus ascended into the clouds in front of the disciples. His followers had every reason to believe
that his return was imminent. Nearly
2000 years later we still look for his return in the clouds. What’s taking so long? Why must so many suffer such great
persecution in the meantime? Only God
knows his purpose and plan for mankind.
That may seem like a glib answer, but it happens to be true. If we believe everything happens for a reason
and that God is always and forever in control of all things, then there must be
some eternal purpose for all that transpires in this life. Even the random killings that are taking
place now.
To us the wait is excruciatingly
long. Of course we are the same ones
that almost have a heart attack if we have to wait in a grocery line for more
than 5 minutes. It’s taking so long in
our estimation because the Lord doesn’t wish any to perish. He doesn’t take delight in any soul being
cast out of his presence for all eternity.
Yet there will be many people who simply will not listen. Our time schedule doesn’t even come remotely
close to meshing with God’s. As scripture
states, to God a 1000 years is like a day and a day like 1000 years. Therefore, if we wish to keep our sanity
intact we must accept that God knows what He’s doing and continue to wait. What other choice do we have as believers in
Christ? We can always renounce our faith
in Christ and go back to the same place we were before. Of course, scripture speaks of that in 2
Peter 2:21, “It would be better if they
had never known the way to righteousness than to know it and then reject the
command they were given to live a holy life.”
The Lord is waiting for people to turn
to Him. Do you know that person you
simply cannot stand; God’s waiting so that person has every opportunity to
repent. That goes for any and all of
those folks that rub us the wrong way.
They deserve every chance to make the choice of all choices. What are we doing to lead people to Christ? Ask
him if you could be doing more and then listen for the still small voice of his
spirit. It’s part of what we have been
called to do. Until next time, walk
with the King and be a blessing!
Resource: The Life Application Study Bible;
Tyndale House Publishing.
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