Is that the Best You Can Do? - Pt. 8

They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. 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. (2 Peter 3:4-9 ESV).

 

The hymn goes “soon and very soon, we are going to see the King.” You may have sung it many times. It has been done by many artists over the years. The message is one of great assurance. However, the question often becomes “how soon is soon?” Peter helps us with an answer to that question in our reading today. He simply says the Lord is not dallying; he is not being slow in the face of our trial. He is working qualitatively rather than quantitatively. He is not counting the time by the minutes, but by the fulfillment of the calling of all men to himself.

 

Already in the first century some believers doubted Jesus’ return. They had believed the promise of his coming, but times were hard and persecution was severe. Scoffers were asking, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised?” They had no answer. Sometimes we might wonder too. We hear about persecution and ask, “Why doesn’t Jesus come to end it?” We read about poverty and hunger and deprivation, and we think, “When will it end?” We hear about natural disasters and tragedies, and we wonder why Jesus does not end it all by coming back. The answer Peter gives is that Jesus has not forgotten about his promise to return. He is “not slow in keeping his promise.” Instead, he is patient!

 

I think that patience is of incredible assurance to us. He is not going to forget anyone. No one will be left behind. God is under no timetable. No one has put a limit to the measure of time or effort that God is willing to spend to get the task finished. Everyone who is called will be saved; and, everyone who is saved, will enter the kingdom of God. Heaven is our destination, regardless of how long or how difficult the journey. Take comfort, when we get there, our wait will merely seem as an instant!