“And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him…” (2 Pet. 3:15). I think we can all agree that we are pretty lucky that God is patient. I certainly count my blessing in that regard. I only found my salvation in my mid 30’s, and I am ever thankful that God did not give up on me or that Christ did not return before I came to my senses. When I read that passage, I think of my own life and then am able to understand the context better.
Earlier, in 2 Pet. 3:9, we read more about the patience of God, “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.” Peter’s readers must have been impatient, wondering why He had not fulfilled the promise of returning in their lifetime. There is no doubt that they were aware of scriptures like Acts 1:11 and its promise of the return of the Savior – “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.” They were suffering the trials and tribulations as followers of Christ are bound to, and they were ready for some relief from persecution.
There is also no doubt that they were aware of the words of Jesus in Mark 9:1, “And he said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.’” Were they upset, thinking that God was slacking? Is that why Peter reminds them of the patience of God? Actually, there is evidence in 2 Pet. 3:4 that some thought precisely that, “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.” I have dealt with those “scoffers” in a previous article, so I will not be discussing them here, but suffice to say that they were questioning the return of Jesus.
The point I am trying to make is that when we look at the patience of God from a Salvific perspective, we can appreciate His “longsuffering.” In 2 Pet. 3:9, we are told that God does not wish anyone to perish but that everyone everywhere should reach repentance. The fact of the matter is that a percentage of the world’s population has never heard of the gospel, so why would we be in a hurry to see the return of Jesus? Are we that self-serving that we could care less for others to have the same opportunity afforded us to find salvation? We would do well to learn patience ourselves – Jam. 5:7-8, “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
Maybe we don’t want everyone to be saved. There may be certain people that we would rather never see in heaven with us. Why not have the Lord come back sooner rather than later? After all, they “had their opportunity,” and if they were not smart enough to make use of it, “too bad, so sad.” Now, to be fair, not everyone is excited at the prospect of the return of the Savior. They may feel that they need some more refining to ensure their reservation in that mansion in the sky. I am sure we all need some refining, so let’s not be too hasty. But, in case you are one of those who question the return date of Jesus, here is a thought. If He is patiently waiting for everyone to have the opportunity to repent, why don’t you do something about it?
Mark 16:15, “And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.” Maybe the faster everyone hears the Word, the faster God may decide to usher in the following chapter in the story of His adopted children. So, I will patiently accept the patience of the Lord and, in the meantime, do all I can do to help others find the joy of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
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