Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.
2 Peter 3: 8-9 The Message
Time is important. This next Sunday, we will begin Daylight Savings Time. Each time we gain or lose an hour, we are usually more aware of it with our sleep patterns. An hour can also make you either very early or very late to church. Over the years, I have seen both.
Here, the scripture is talking about time, and specifically about being late. Peter speaks here of our perception that God is sometimes “late.” Here, he reminds us that God’s calendar and our calendar are not the same. Not even close!
Sometimes, you will hear a Christian despair and say, “Things are so messed up down here. Why doesn’t Jesus just hurry up and come back right now?” Or others will say that “There are signs everywhere that Jesus is about to return. When will he return?”. Well, this scripture helps to answer both of those questions.
First, it is only from our perspective that God needs to “hurry up.” God doesn’t need to “hurry up” to do anything. God is the creator of time, and God does not work off of our clocks or calendars. Rather, we are to work off of His calendar. As Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us, “there is a time for everything, and for every purpose under heaven.”
Secondly, God has not delayed His return. It only seems that way, because of our limited perspective. The Lord’s ultimate goal is to give all people the time and opportunity to have a relationship with Him, so that they might be saved by Him.
Peter wants all of Christ’s followers to balance their expectations, realizing that “when the Day of God’s Judgment does come, it will be unannounced, like a thief.” 2 Peter 3: 10. To some degree, Peter’s analogy is startling. Yet it is also perfect. Who plans for a thief to come to their home? Nobody! The same should be with our expectations on the Lord.
The more important message here is for us to be ready and prepared at all times. If we knew that someone was coming to our home that we would not want in our home, what would we do? Jesus’ eventual return should not worry us if we are preparing ourselves (our homes) for Him. Instead, it should simply spur us to make the necessary preparations. If we would clean our physical houses for company and guests, why wouldn’t we take time to prepare ourselves spiritually for the Lord’s return?
Rather than wring your hands in despair and frustration, get out those cleaning supplies. Open your bibles, and absorb what is offered in God’s word. Spend time in prayer, and share with others the amazing and wonderful news of Jesus and salvation. We always have plenty of things we can do to prepare. Sitting and just waiting around is not one of them.
“So, my dear friends, since this is what you have to look forward to, do your very best to be found living at your best, in purity and peace. Interpret our Master’s patient restraint for what it is: salvation.”
2 Peter 3: 14 The Message
Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for you are the perfect clock-maker. Help me to adjust my time table to Yours, rather than expecting you to adjust Yours to mine. Give me patience and wisdom. Let me be aware of all that I can do to prepare for your return. May my actions show that I understand your expectations.
Faithfully I pray these words in the name of Your son, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, Jesus Christ, Amen
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