“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
When people don’t keep their promises we can assume that they have changed their plans, have forgotten what they promised or find themselves unable to keep their word. None of those reasons are the case with God. He hasn’t delayed His return because He can’t or won’t keep His promise to come and bring completion to His plans for our world.
When we know that God has plans to bring an end to the evil around us and restore the world to the Paradise He first planned we may wonder why it is taking so long for Him to do something. The reason for God’s delay is His patience. While we may be impatient and want to bring a quick end to the world’s corruption, God is patiently waiting for as many people as possible to be reconciled to Him. He has done everything possible to see that no one perishes. He is willing to wait patiently for His lost sons and daughters to come home.
God’s patience has created an opportunity for a major harvest. Every day, around the world, thousands of individuals are repenting and finding their way back home to their heavenly Father. No one knows how long He will wait to fulfill His promise of ending evil and restoring righteousness in our world-gone-crazy. However we do know two things. He is coming back and His delay is because of His great love for those who haven’t yet received His offer of salvation.
God’s love and His patience have given each of us our chance to find salvation. Every day that God delays His coming gives others the same opportunity. The reason for His patience is comforting because it tells us something about what God is like. He doesn’t want anyone to perish but wants everyone to come to repentance. While He is waiting to bring an end to history as we know it, He wants us to do all we can to help as many as possible to find salvation. That’s what He wants for everyone, from the best to the worst of us.
