Just Wait

But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. (2 Peter 3:8-10 ESV). When we think of waiting around Christmastime, we usually think of little children. Some have been through this before and know they have to wait, with excitement and hope, for Christmas to come, and family to arrive, and presents to be opened. Others aren’t yet able to grasp the concept of days or how long exactly they have to wait for all the hustle and bustle they see around them to unveil itself as Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. So they ask again and again, “How long until Christmas?” I can remember posting a Christmas countdown for the boys when they were little. It seemed to help a little as they open each door of the countdown castle. They still kept asking though. I suppose that’s a part of all of us regardless of the situation. We want to know how much longer we will need to wait for anything we want. Our reading today is more about waiting until the Second Coming of Christ. However, the principle remains the same. Before Jesus’ birth the people waited for the deliverance of the God through “Messiah.” They had been waiting for centuries. Generation after generation had come and gone and God had yet to send the Savior. Tragically, when he did, many people simply refused to believe that Jesus was this promised One. In the day of the apostle Peter, the question more likely to be asked was, “How long until Christ’s return?” When Jesus left his disciples and ascended to the right hand of the Father, his disciples expected his return any day. In this letter, Peter is reminding Christian believers to be patient as they wait for Christ’s return, and to remember that when Christ returns, new heavens and a new earth will be revealed, where righteousness is at home. Just like it took time for God to make all things right before the first coming, so he will make all things right before the Second Coming. Our task is not to countdown the days, but to anticipate the event. We should be ready, filled with the joy of hope. “Just wait”… you won’t be disappointed!