“And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:4, 9).
We could sum up these two verses in these phrases: man’s denial and God’s delay. First of all, sinful man doubts Christ’s existence. So naturally, he will deny His return. Just as in Peter’s day, non-believers as well as some Christians are asking, “Where is the promise of His Coming?”
If you have grown in the knowledge of God and His Word, you know God has kept every
promise. He will keep one last promise when He sends His Son to bring His children home. Only God knows the date and time.
Some either deny our Lord’s return or they are skeptical about His delay. William Barclay writes this concerning 2 Peter 3:9 and gives these possible reasons for God’s delay: “There are in this passage three great truths on which to nourish the mind and rest the heart. (1) Time is not the same to God as it is to man. (2) Time is always to be regarded as an opportunity. Every day which comes to us is a gift of mercy. It is an opportunity to develop ourselves; to render some service to our fellow-men; to take one step closer to God. (3) God is not willing that any should perish. He
holds His hand in order to give sinning man another chance to repent and find salvation.”
Jesus is indeed coming back. Continue to grow in hope, anticipating His promised return.
Sue Winchester
Missouri
PRAY TOGETHER: Pray for mothers of school-aged children as they adjust and prioritize their lives in the midst of all the demands and activities of the school year. Pray that they would put Christ first, allowing Him to use them as instruments of His grace and bearers of His truth.
