"This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder, that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 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.' For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 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. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God..."
2 Peter 3:1-12a
I find it mildly amusing that the early Christians were convinced they were in the "last days" and looking for Christ's return - after He had just left! (Fast forward 2,000 years and it sure seems like we are living in the last days now, doesn't it?!) In fact, those early Christians were somewhat discouraged that the Lord had not yet returned, and the Apostle Paul had to remind them in 2 Peter 3 that the Lord always keeps His promises. He's not slow to keep His promises - He keeps them at the exact time He intended to keep them. He is not on our timetable, He is God! Just as God kept the time He had appointed for delivering Israel out of Egypt, so He will keep the time appointed in coming to judge the world.
Matthew Henry really says it perfectly:
"That what mean count slackness is truly long-suffering, and that to us-ward; it is giving more time to his own people, whom he has chosen before the foundation of the world, many of whom are not as yet converted; and those who are in a state of grace and favour with God are to advance in knowledge and holiness, and in the exercise of faith and patience, to abound in good works, doing and suffering what they are called to, that they may bring glory to God and improve in a meetness for heaven; for God is not willing that any of these should perish, but that all of them should come to repentance."
God has not yet returned for this simple fact - He is giving as much time as He can for people to turn to Him. He is giving ample time to repent. So, what should we as Christians be doing now? As it says in verse 12, we should live lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for the return of our Lord. We should share the good news of the gospel with everyone we meet so that they too can know our Savior, and in so doing, hasten the Lord's return.
Page Details
I used gelatos, stamps, and some glitter texture paste to create this page. I first used my finger to blend the blue gelato all over the page. I had some bleed-through from the page on the other side and wanted to cover it up before doing my stamping on this page. :) I then did my stamping, and used the Puffy Clouds stencil to add glittery clouds. I colored the rainbow and sun with my Tombow dual brush markers.
Remember this: God is long-suffering and is giving more time to His people, whom He has chosen before the foundation of the world, to turn to Him. God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. He will keep His promise to come again, but He is first giving ample time for all to repent!
Much love in Christ,
Janelle
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