"The Lord's Patience"

“The Lord’s Patience”

 

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.”      2 Peter 3:3-4

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.      2 Peter 3:8-9

 

In these verses, the Apostle Peter, warns us that in the LAST DAYS scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own EVIL desires.  A scoffer is a rude, mocking individual, a person who makes fun of and mocks the actions, words, deeds or life-style of another individual.  In this instance they would be the ones who SCOFF at the idea of the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. They carry out their SCOFFING and UNBELIEF in order to PRACTICE their own EVIL desires.

 

They are judging the VALIDITY of the PROMISE of the return of the Lord Jesus Christ with THEIR concept of time, evidenced by their statement:  “Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 

 

Then Peter reminds the readers of his letter, that:  “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.”  Indicating that mankind’s concept of time and God’s concept of time are drastically different.  Mankind judges time against time, and God judges time against eternity.  And what may seem like a LONG time to mankind is a SHORT time to God. 

 

The Apostle Peter, states that God is NOT slow in keeping His promise.  Again mankind is judging God’s delay by their concept of “slowness”, indicating that the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ will NOT happen, however, Peter gives the REAL REASON for God’s delay:  It is because of God’s PATIENCE with mankind.  He does NOT want ANYONE to perish, but He wishes that EVERYONE would come to REPENTANCE and be SAVED. 

 

Sadly, though He KNOWS that EVERYONE won’t come to REPENTANCE and SALVATION.  There will be some who will continue to REJECT His FREE gift of SALVATION, and He is delaying the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, so that as many as WILL COME will have the opportunity to come.  But TIME is running out.  Will you be one who ACCEPTS or REJECTS?

 

God with His GREAT PATIENCE is waiting for you to come to Him with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING your sins to Him, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS, BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you before God, then ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION and take advantage of God’s GREAT PATIENCE, and receive the HOPE of HEAVEN for ALL of ETERNITY.  Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!