Read 2 Peter 3

“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.” (2 Peter 3:9)

With how often we hear this verse quoted from the pulpit, it's easy to forget that the context is all about the Second Coming of Christ and the Day of the Lord. Unlike Paul, the Apostle Peter treats the end times with less specificity on various events. Peter has nothing to say of the rapture, the antichrist, or even the tribulation itself. Rather, Peter fast-forwards to the very end in which God's final promise is fulfilled, where He will start everything over again with the new heavens and the new earth (see 2 Peter 3:13).

As hard as it is to believe, the church in the first century was already getting impatient as to why the Lord Jesus had not come back yet. Even scoffers were taking opportunity to mock Christians at the time, saying that it was all just a false hope. (see 2 Peter 3:3) I'm sure they never imagined that Christians 2,000 years later would be waiting for the same glorious hope to be fulfilled.

But Jesus clearly promised to come back and restore all things (see Matthew 24:30-31). So what in the world is He waiting for?

The answer to this question is found within the long-suffering nature of God. Peter says to the church, and I paraphrase, "Do not think that the Lord has forgotten His promise or is dragging His feet. Rather, it is because of His patience and long-suffering for the lost that He has not returned yet, for He does not desire that anyone should perish."

“Therefore the LORD will wait, that He may be gracious to you; And therefore He will be exalted, that He may have mercy on you…” (Isaiah 30:18)

Wasn't it the patience of the Lord to wait for you to come to Him? Aren't you thankful He chose to wait to fulfill His promise until you could be a part of it? No doubt, we all are! Likewise, our Lord Jesus Christ only delays His coming for one reason and one reason only — to save that which is lost. He leaves the 99 for the 1.

Each and every day that Christ chooses not to return is a gift to this lost world to come to Him. Beloved, this also means that each and every day is an opportunity for us to announce the good news of Christ to our neighbors in order that they might be saved.

“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.” (Romans 13:11)

Lord, we know that You are not willing that any should perish. I pray that you would give us the same heart — that we too would be unwilling that any should perish. Give us opportunity to share Your love and grace to all who need to hear it. And may we keep our eyes on the skies as we patiently await Your return. Amen!

“But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.” (Psalm 86:15)

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