2 Peter 3:9 AMPC
[9] The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance.
Reflect on the audience for this letter of Simon Peter: he referred to those 'who have received like precious faith' with the apostles through the righteousness of God and Savior Jesus Christ. Precious faith: this is something that has value, is not picked up cheap from the street, and is not something that this world can give you. Of course, if the world cannot give it to you, it cannot take it away unless you let it go. This is the audience that Peter was speaking to. Why is this important? It is the impact of the message in the verse above. As the verses before the one above make clear, just as they are now, there were scoffers and mockers in those days who were walking after their own fleshy desires, saying that Jesus was not coming back, as He had promised. How could mortal man make the immortal God out to be a liar, who could not keep a promise?
Who would blame them, when it appeared that several generations of prophets had said the same thing, but Jesus still had not returned. One needs the help of the God who promised, to keep hope alive and to remain focused on what is important. Men have come and gone, and it appears that the earth is immovable and unshakeable. Nothing seems to change, and it does appear that evil is not immediately punished. This has given men the courage to keep doing evil. This can make the faith of even the strongest man to shake sometimes, but we have and hold on to the sure word of God that His promises can never fail. The Word of God makes reference to two immutable things by which it is quite impossible for God to lie, which are His Name and His Word. It may appear that promises He made are taking time before they are fulfilled, but He stakes His name when He speaks, and He wants to be trusted.
Men view delay as being slow. We are the ones who use times and seasons to measure impact and relevance. God is not moved by the things that easily distract men. Men also measure time in years, and we grow old and die, but between life and death is one very important decision that we all need to make, and that is what to do with Jesus. God gives us the power of freewill, so we can make up our mind to submit our lives to Him of our own accord. God does not force Himself on anyone, and He will not go against the exercise of our freewill. He will be patient with us, so we can come to Him. However, I must note that I have not been given forever on this side of eternity to make up my mind. God is not interested in the death of a sinner, but no sinner will enter into the kingdom of heaven. If God is patient, it is because He seeks the heart of man to turn to Him. I must not ignore this gift. Eternity will be glad that I made the right choice. God's time of favour is here.
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