By Rev. J. Loren Russell, BA, MDiv.
2 Peter 3:8-9 (CSV)
“Dear friends, don’t forget that for the Lord one day is the same as 1,000 years, and 1,000 years is the same as one day. The Lord isn’t slow about keeping his promises, as some people think he is. In fact, God is patient, because he wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.”
The debate over the promises made in scripture about the return of Christ, the redemption of the faithful and an eternity for them in His kingdom is as old as the Bible itself. Peter writes to encourage his readers to do some “honest thinking” about the promises the prophets said would happen and what the apostles instructed them to do. Peter also reassured them that the promises are true before telling them how the people will respond to this truth and to their message of hope.
Peter tells them that the people will be consumed by their own selfish desires. If he were writing today, he would use modern language and might say that they would be egocentric and narcissistic; he might write that they will exhibit egotism so profound that they would think that they are the only persons who know anything. He tells his readers that people will ridicule them about the faith they profess.
Peter’s objective was to let them know that the promises that were made by the prophets as well as the apostles were promises that would be kept, but it would take time. His analogy of one day being like a thousand years, and a thousand years like a day was to illustrate the longevity of the Lord’s patience and the brevity of time. Even those who were only concerned about themselves and those who would ridicule them were offered the same degree of patience and the same duration of time. What Peter’s readers needed to know was that the Lord was giving the same time to everyone in order that they turn from their wickedness and to Him. The Lord is willing to wait a thousand years for us to turn from our wickedness if that’s what it takes.
Although none of us will live or even come close to living a thousand years, God’s patience, His love, and His grace gives us all the time we need. To quote Peter, “He wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.” He shows us His patience so that we can be found.
Be Blessed +++
Rev. J. Loren Russell
Rev. J. Loren Russell is an associate minister at both Goodwill and The Greater Universal Baptist Churches in the Bronx, President/CEO of The JLR Company for Church Financial &. Strategic Consulting, and hosts “Matters of Faith – The Radio Show” on Soul 1 Radio, Mondays 8:00 – 10:00 PM. Listen by phone at 626-226-1448. Be sure to Friend “Matters of Faith” on Facebook and email us at mattersoffaith.mof@gmail.com. Order your copy of Matters of Faith: The Book at Book Blues.
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