There are two types of people in this world: those who are always late and those who always arrive early to events or parties. Which are you? The truth is, even those of us who are always early sometimes get stuck in unexpected traffic and end up being late. We can do our best, but ultimately, we are not in control of our times and timelines. God, on the other hand, is always in control and He is never late. He is always on time.
Peter reminded readers of God's perfect timing as he wrote in the book of 2 Peter. As he neared the end of his book, he began to talk about God’s timing, specifically as it relates to Jesus’ return. He wrote in chapter 3, “But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day” (verse 8). Immediately, Peter explained that God's timing is completely different than our own. His concept of time is entirely different from ours. Peter continued writing, “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” (verse 9). What the promise that Peter is talking about here is the promise of Jesus' return to come for His people so that they can spend eternity in Heaven with Him forever one day. While some may think that God is being slow in bringing this promise to fruition, He is actually being kind and merciful. He is being patient. God is delaying the return of Christ so that more and more people can come to place their faith in Him.
My friend, God’s timing is perfect. Jesus is patiently waiting for His return for the sake of humanity. He is waiting to give everyone a chance to become His followers. May we trust His perfect timing and carry out His mission to make Him known to everyone around us.
Jesus has not returned yet because He is patiently waiting for more people to commit their lives to Him. Who in your life is far from Christ? Reach out to them today. Tell them one way God has worked in your life this week. Your conversation might be the encouragement they need to give their lives to Christ.
1This is my second letter to you, dear friends, and in both of them I have tried to stimulate your wholesome thinking and refresh your memory. 2 I want you to remember what the holy prophets said long ago and what our Lord and Savior commanded through your apostles.
3 Most importantly, I want to remind you that in the last days scoffers will come, mocking the truth and following their own desires. 4 They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again? From before the times of our ancestors, everything has remained the same since the world was first created.”
5 They deliberately forget that God made the heavens long ago by the word of his command, and he brought the earth out from the water and surrounded it with water. 6 Then he used the water to destroy the ancient world with a mighty flood. 7 And by the same word, the present heavens and earth have been stored up for fire. They are being kept for the day of judgment, when ungodly people will be destroyed.
8 But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day. 9 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. 10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
11 Since everything around us is going to be destroyed like this, what holy and godly lives you should live, 12 looking forward to the day of God and hurrying it along. On that day, he will set the heavens on fire, and the elements will melt away in the flames. 13 But we are looking forward to the new heavens and new earth he has promised, a world filled with God’s righteousness.
14 And so, dear friends, while you are waiting for these things to happen, make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in his sight.
15 And remember, our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved. This is what our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you with the wisdom God gave him— 16 speaking of these things in all of his letters. Some of his comments are hard to understand, and those who are ignorant and unstable have twisted his letters to mean something quite different, just as they do with other parts of Scripture. And this will result in their destruction.
17 You already know these things, dear friends. So be on guard; then you will not be carried away by the errors of these wicked people and lose your own secure footing. 18 Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
All glory to him, both now and forever! Amen.
