The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance — 2 Peter 3.9 (NKJV)

Calling Good Bad And Bad Good

The days in which we are living can seem surreal as good is called bad and bad is called good, making it difficult, almost impossible for people to stand upon the truth without being constantly challenged with the following statements:

• There are many paths to God.
• Why shouldn’t two loving people of the same gender marry?
• Mankind evolved from apes and we’re still evolving.
• It is my body and I can do what I want with it.
• There are no absolutes.
• Sin is only doing something that is wrong for you.
• Where is God? Nothing ever changes, He is a figment of your imagination, you are stupid….

Godly parents, seeking to raise their children on a strong foundation know that general society offers no support. A few generations ago only a few kooky fringe types would dare challenge Judeo-Christian principles, but today those challenges are accepted as normal — even widely embraced!

For some reason I’ve been hearing the last (bulleted) point a lot lately — where is God? Not from Christians (though we wait for His return) but from scoffers who attack moral absolutes.

Where Is God?

In 2 Peter 3:4 the apostle Peter addressed this very subject, taking into consideration the following question that unbelievers are asking:

“Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”

Peter answered that question by first stating the underlying point: they are willingly forgetting. He goes on to say that God’s earlier judgment (via water during the time of Noah) has already been executed while a latter judgment (via fire at the end of the age) is still in reserve. We’re living in the time between two judgments, but we’re to be mindful of the first one as it assuredly points to the one yet to come.

Much More Patient Than Us

In my younger days I sometimes found myself being impatient, urging God to bring His judgment upon this world (right now!) so that we could live in perfect peace with Him. Certainly, I yearn for his return, but I also know that many of my loved ones still don’t know the Lord. I may not be the witness that they need to hear from, but I know that God sends others to shine the light in their lives.

We’re also witnessing some incredible movements of the Holy Spirit throughout the world these days with previously unreached people groups responding to the gospel. These new believers, in turn, are spreading the Word to areas where no western missionary could possibly visit, breaking down barriers that have existed for centuries.

In verse 8 believers are reminded of God’s patience and how he views the passage of time: “…do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” Clearly, what seems like forever to us is but a moment in time for God who isn’t bound by time. Thankfully, when God hears our prayers, He separates our unwise and misplaced requests while accepting the yearning that we have for Him.

Verse 9, as mentioned at the start, brings it all home: God does not want anyone to die without receiving Him. Yes, many will reject His way but others will repent.

In the New King James Version I’m glad that the word “longsuffering” is retained from the KJV.  Though the word means “patience” its usage offers a much more accurate description of what God willingly is going through — a long period of suffering with mankind. My, what a wonderful love He has for us!

His Return, Be Steadfast

The remainder of the chapter quickly shifts to the return of Jesus Christ and the admonition for believers to remain steadfast lest we be led away with the error of the wicked. Instead, as outlined in verse 18, we’re to “…grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ…”

Certainly, these are trying times for those who love God and are groaning under the weight of sin. But, His work in this world isn’t done as there are still those who must be brought into His kingdom, something we are to look for and hasten (v.12).

As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately. “Tell us,” they said, “when will this happen, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” (Matthew 24:3 - NIV)

One question often asked these days besides, “Is there a God?” is the one asking if we are nearing the end of the world.

Even people who do not believe in God, in a supreme being, or do not put their trust in some other entity understand that we live in perilous times. Sure, these same folks aren’t always using the word “perilous” to describe present day conditions, but that doesn’t matter — some have a strong inkling that things today are just not quite right. Hurricanes, earthquakes, floods, fires, famine, excessive heat, sandstorms, volcanic activity, and more are impacting the earth today.

Certainly, it seems that some of that concern centers on one area chiefly — global climate change a/k/a global warming.  Scan the internet, pick up your daily newspaper, or read almost any magazine and you’ll be under the distinct impression that the world is going through some very trying times. And, if you were to heed the warnings from environmental advocates such as Al Gore, you’d understand that we don’t have much time to do something about it.

I have nothing against those who want to be good stewards of this earth, but I believe another agenda can be found just below the surface. Namely, some of the leaders of the environmental movement seem to want to exert their control over mankind. Specifically, by measuring a person’s “carbon footprint” or judging how they use earth’s resources seems to be some of the ways that they are going about doing this.

Others have expressed alarm that the Mayan calendar, written many centuries ago, only goes through 2012. I’ve read that a Mayan prophet was said to have predicted that the earth will end on winter solstice of that year which is December 21, 2012. In other words, don’t bother to do your Christmas shopping that year!

I find it useless to engage in conversations that have little or no merit or distract people from what they really need to hear: God loves them, their sins separate them from Him, sinners (every person on earth) must realize that Jesus already paid the price for their sins, and that by asking for His forgiveness and restoration, communion with God will be restored.

Will the world end in 2012? Well it could.  But, we aren’t to concern ourselves with a date. Instead, in Matthew 25:13, Jesus said: “Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.”  The only way we can truly watch is by having eyes that see and only those eyes opened up by God can truly comprehend the events of our day.