15th December

When Waiting Means Salvation

"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 3:9

THOUGHT

"If Jesus was going to come back, don't you think he would have done it already?" You've probably heard an objection like this to the Christian belief that Jesus will one day return. Peter anticipated this, when he wrote: "remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 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.'" (2 Peter 3:2-4) Over two thousand years have now passed since Jesus ascended to heaven, and everything seems to be ticking along exactly as it always has since the beginning of the world: every day the sun rises, every day the sun sets, and there is not the faintest hint that anything is ever going to change.

The issue is, says Peter, "they deliberately overlook this fact": everything is distinctly not ticking along exactly as it always has. There was a time before any of it even existed: "the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God" (v5). And that fact comes with a warning: "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." (v7)

So why hasn't Jesus come back yet? Well, for starters, two thousand years really isn't that long from God's perspective: "with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (v8) It's a bit like a manager leaving the office on a Friday night saying they'll be back next week, and then somebody spends all weekend complaining that the manager still hasn't returned, and maybe they never will!

But secondly, Peter gives us some small insight into perhaps why Jesus hasn't yet returned: "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." His delay is an act of patience on his part, giving as many people as possible a chance to repent before it's too late. "Count the patience of our Lord as salvation" (v15) It's a remarkable change of perspective that gives meaning and significance to every day of our life: each time the sun rises, this is another day of God's patience given to us as an act of grace. Who is going to take advantage of today's opportunity, and find salvation? Who can you share the gospel with today, to make the most of the fact that God delayed his judgement by one more day? It's easy to feel disappointed or frustrated that Jesus hasn't returned yet, but for anyone who will turn in repentance this very day, the fact that he didn't return yesterday means salvation for them.

PERSONAL REFLECTION

• Have you ever given thanks to God for the fact that Jesus didn't return before you became a Christian?

• How does it give you a greater sense of urgency in sharing the gospel, to understand God's patience in delaying his judgement by one more day?

• How might you make the most of this gift of today? Who will you pray for, that they might experience God's salvation this very day?

• Are there any ways in which you need to repent in the light of this passage?

PRAYER

Heavenly Father, thank you that you are not slow to fulfill your promise, but are patient towards us, not wishing that any should perish. Please be merciful even today, that some might reach repentance and come to trust in the Lord Jesus. Help me to make the most of today. Amen.