The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.
Summary: Slowness is a measuring stick that changes day-to-day and person-to-person. Understanding that time is subjective helps us understand what is going on here.
How do we understand “slowness”? There are many scenarios we could pick from that would illustrate what it means. One that comes to mind is a doctor’s waiting room…
The receptionist behind the counter is a bit harried today. Her coworker called in sick and left her to handle the reception desk all by herself. From her point of view, her coworker is “slow” in coming. The work, however, is demanding, and the day is flying by. Before she knows it the last appointment will be done and she will be heading home, wishing the traffic was not so slow.
The man sitting next to the banana plant in the corner looks anxious. He is waiting to see the doctor because something is not right in his body. He is concerned that it might be something serious. The doctor agreed to fit him in between appointments, but he has to wait. Each moment feels like he is closer to certain death. Each moment seems like an eternity. Why is the doctor so slow?
Across from the man and the banana plant, on the other side of the reception room, a small woman sits on a large, comfy looking couch. The end table next to her is covered with magazines and she has selected one to read through. She found an article on vacation planning that she is interested in and is enjoying reading and imagining how she might make use of this information for her next vacation. Her thoughts are not about time. The doctor will get to her when he can. She knows these things take time and she is not worried. After all, her surgery last year was a complete success, and this follow-up appointment is just routine.
Each of us carries with us a measuring stick for “slowness.” Oddly, the stick varies in length depending on our mood and our situation.
The “scoffers” that Peter talks about (2 Peter 3: 3) are using an arbitrary measuring stick. They have no idea what they are talking about but are happy to share their ignorance with whomever will listen.
The scoffers’ measuring stick is vague. In fact, it would be fair to say that their measuring stick is a lie. It has no relationship to truth at all. (Of course, we know where lies come from! Satan is the “father of lies.” — John 8: 44) Like our personal measuring sticks in the doctor’s waiting room, this stick varies with mood.
If we accept that Jesus is Lord and God is God, then we accept that Jesus will come again when God decides the time is right (Mark 13:32). If we do not accept the authority of God, then we become our own authority. Nothing God does will seem right in our eyes. The measuring stick of slowness is nothing more than something to strike at God with.
“Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” (2 Peter 3: 4)
Whack! – “Take that, God!”
We fear what we do not understand and sometimes we even try and kill it.
Application: How you react to God’s Word is a powerful indication of your relationship with him.
Food for Thought: If you were God, how would you react to the scoffer’s argument Peter has given us?
Ahhh! Dangerous question, Jeff! If I were God, how would I react?
Well, we know in some of the Psalms, God is described as laughing at the wicked, vain, and foolish for trying to thwart God’s plans. Is that how He’d react to scoffers?
Nehemiah 9:26-31 describes the Israelites going back and forth on following God and His law and the great compassion He has on them when they cry out. But also His just judgement of letting them come under other nations when they reject God, yet even at those times they still have His compassion. Though Israel is a people with many promises from God, would those not in covenant still benefit from His compassion?
What about anger? God has a right to be angry with those who scoff at His word, His plan, His messengers. Will He react out of anger?
I could list every type of reaction I could think of. Funny thing is, that I think I see God doing all of them. He laughs at them, their ignorant confidence in nothing. It’s ridiculous what they will put their faith in. But they truly do not know or understand and yes, I see God’s compassion sparing them from His judgement and anger until the time comes that He will wait no longer. Until then, they live with the consequences of their actions on Earth.
God’s reactions are both just and merciful. Both anger and compassion. Both judgement and love. He knows the balance of seemingly opposites and He acts with the full knowledge of where a person is at, not our limited view. It’s a dangerous question “if I were God….” I would react with one emotion without the balance of the others and make a mess of things.
— You seemed to have captured the intent of the question well:
How does God respond to such assaults? As to our personal responses, I have to agree. Mine would not be as godly as God’s. 🙂
Both Psalm 1 and 2 are instructive to what God might think, because He tells what He is thinking. I guess this is similar to what A wrote. It may be best not to guess how God would react. That sounds dangerous to me too. His word has places where He tells us what He is thinking and how He reacts. I would stick with those truths.
Rich,
Good choice! God has the advantage of absolute power and authority, in addition to absolute righteousness. Understanding these qualities of God’s helps us to understand our need for him.
12-23-2021, 2 Peter 3:9a, If you were God, how would you react to the scoffer’s argument Peter has given us?
I would not do well at all. I’m all in for our call to avoid them.
God has it all under control. He has made sure all mankind fully understands sin, righteousness and judgement to come. Clearly declared the works, actions of each person will be judged as they are weighed against what each knows in their hearts to be righteous.
John 16:8, Romans 1:21-28, 2:6, 2 Corinthians 5:10
God is delaying the day of final Judgement so that all He in His foreknowledge knows will be saved, are given the opportunity to make their decision. When Judgement does come, it will be swift! God will simply open all hearts, “the Book of Life”, and every action, thought, word of our hearts will be revealed. It will not be a day of balancing possible good deeds against bad deeds as determined by men. It will be the simple, undeniable truth of each persons response to the righteousness of God as written in our hearts and revealed by the Holy Spirit. All those who have received Gods righteousness in Christ shall be saved as our unrighteous acts are destroyed by fire. Those who have rejected His righteousness shall receive their chosen separation from God and spend all eternity with their burning works.
1 Corinthians 3:13, Revelation 20:11-15, Revelation 21:27
Gods judgement is perfect. He has allowed all to exercise their own free will and the truth as revealed in our lives, shall speak for itself.
Ron,
I love the picture you paint of our God as the perfect judge. Judgment will come at the perfect time in the perfect way. All who are going to be saved will be saved. Thank you for sharing your thoughts today!