He is patient with YOU

Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.  They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.”

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.

Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. - 2 Peter 3:3-4, 8-12a,

It seems like it’s hard enough remembering and reassuring yourself of God’s promises even in the difficult times without people introducing doubt.  However, that is exactly what the enemy of our souls does.  It seems to be his most common method of attack.  In fact, in Genesis 3:1 this is how the serpent enticed Adam and Eve when he said “Did God really say...”  and we see it continuing throughout the Bible.

Scoffers will come…

This text was written to a people who would be experiencing intense persecution.  It is likely that in the most difficult times, just when the believers were on the verge of giving up, this is when the scoffers would begin trying to use logic to convince God’s people that they should not believe His promises.  That is also exactly when the scoffer’s come in our lives.  When we are at our lowest and are beginning to doubt whether God will really fulfill his promises to us, this is when people will come and present logical arguments as to why God’s promises will not really be fulfilled.  Ironically, they will point to times when His promises seemed to be left unfulfilled in the past.  The answer to this is to remember the times when God’s promises were fulfilled.  God is always faithful!

But do not forget…

God can’t possibly be slow because he is outside of time.  Remember that with Him, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day!  If He has not acted, it isn’t because He is slow.  He is patient.  Patience suggests that He is waiting for something or for someone.  We are the ones that are constrained by time.  Therefore, He hasn’t acted because He is waiting for us.  In fact, this text says that He is patient with you!  It is easy to point to those around us, but this scripture doesn’t speak to them.  It speaks to you.  He has not come back because He is waiting for you.

…but everyone to come to repentance.

Why is He waiting for me?  It says that He doesn’t want anyone, even me, to perish.  He wants me to come to repentance!  What if the entire reason that his promise has not been fulfilled is that it is being held back as He waits for me to come to repentance?  What if He has a promise, even His very return, waiting for me and all that it takes is for me to come to repentance.  Is there something in your life that you know is not right with the Lord?  You know what He is waiting for!

Speed its coming

Perhaps, you have already come to repentance and you are still looking for His promised return.  After saying that He is patient with YOU, Peter tells us that He wants EVERYONE to come to repentance.  Therefore, you might be the first on the list, but your next task is to speed His coming by bringing this message of repentance to everyone you meet.  In fact, this is the very message that John the Baptist brought prior to the coming of Christ.  Prepare the way of the Lord….Repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!  Peter expresses this very call to us as believers.  Prepare the way!  If you are looking forward to heaven, perhaps it is time to speed His coming by following His command to make disciples.

Looking Forward

Next week, we begin a study in the book of Ezra!  Don’t miss the messages that God will bring through our campus pastors, or lay pastors, and through this devotional!

Pastor Pete