Have you ever gotten tired of waiting for something?  . . . So tired that you gave up on ever seeing, getting, or doing whatever it was you were waiting for?  I remember, not so much from memory but from home movies of the event, a time when I was in grade school and got so tired of waiting for my grandparents to show up for my birthday party that I gave up on them and went to sleep in the recliner.  I wanted the birthday celebration to come.  I was even sure that it would, at least I thought so.  But I finally gave up.  Watching and waiting grew old and I just couldn’t do it any longer.  If somehow we could just understand the reason for the delay, maybe — just maybe, we would wait more patiently.

Peter writes in 2 Peter 3:3-9,

“Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.  They will say, ‘Where is this “coming” he promised?  Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.’  But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water.  By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed.  By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.
But do not forget this one thing, dear friends:  With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  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.”

Peter writes that individuals will give up on the promise of Jesus returning.  They will mock any and all who continue to believe that this return is not only possible, but a sure thing.  Such an attitude is contagious.  Negativity has a way of creeping through a group of people and before you know it, entire congregations, cities, and even nations are infected.  Like a spreading disease, doubt eats away at people when they are required to wait with no understanding of why.  Yet faith is just the opposite — it is the growing confidence in the yet unseen that is strengthened through understanding. 

I experienced that contrast a few weeks ago when I made the trip to Nappanee to help with the tornado damage clean-up.  Coming into town, the final 5 miles took an hour to drive.  You talk about trying a person’s patience!  Many could not understand the delay and car after car did a U-turn in the roadway and headed back to where they came from.  Yet many of us had at least a partial degree of understanding.  We knew it would take time to direct and park all of the cars that were streaming to this small town to help.  We were confident that the purpose of the delay was a result of the number of people wanting to help.  And so it was, thousands of people were converging on this town and the numbers were overwhelmingly greater than anticipated.  Was it worth it?  I say,”Yes!”  Even the delays were worth it because my focus stayed on the purpose and anticipation of assisting a community that needed help.

As we wait for the return of Jesus, Peter reminds us to pay little attention to the negative attitudes and the scoffers that try to dissuade us from our faith.  The delay has purpose.  The purpose is God’s desire that none would perish, but all would come to repentance.  He is deliberately delaying His return to give people all the opportunity in the world to see Him for who He is and turn to Him in repentance before He returns to judge the world and all who are in it. 

The delay has purpose, so we wait.  But we do more than wait, we work.  Peter goes on to write in verses 14 and 15, “since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.  Bear in mind that our Lord’s patience means salvation”.  We eagerly await the return of Jesus, making every effort to be doing the things that please and honor Him.  Our “work” is to live our life in obedience to Christ, spreading the gospel of salvation to all we can.  Knowing that the patience of God is the reason Jesus has not yet returned, how will you live, speak, and act toward those around you?

May you and I celebrate the patience of God that brought us to salvation.  May we also live our life in a way that lifts up Jesus and allows us to be tools in His desire for all to have a saving relationship with Him.