Dave's Diary

Daily Readings: 2 Peter 3 and Psalm 47

⁹ 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. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come like a thief … ¹¹ … (so) what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹² as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.

No matter how much time has passed since Christ’s ascension, we should clearly understand that the apparent “delay” is actually a lengthening of the season of grace – that is, the time between Christ’s ascension and His return. During this season, people are presented with the Good News, given the opportunity to repent of their sins, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and be saved.

Peter reveals that this season of grace is lengthened (and the delay of Christ therefore delayed) only because the Lord does not want anyone to perish, but all to come to repentance. God wants all people to be given the opportunity to hear the Gospel and come home to His Kingdom Family forever. As He said in Ezekiel 33:11, “As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but rather that they turn from their ways and live.”

So we should never fall foul of the temptation to disbelieve Christ’s teaching about His return and the final judgment. We will most certainly all be called to give a final account of how we have lived. Therefore we would be wise to live daily with His return in mind, and strive to live holy and godly lives that are pleasing to Him. We should “make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him” (v.14). And we should also partner with the missional heart of God by sharing the great news of His saving love in Christ Jesus with everyone who will listen!

Life application: Thank the Lord for giving you the opportunity to hear the Gospel and to be saved, and be alert to every opportunity to share the great news with someone else today.