2 Peter 3 reminds me that I have no patience. I do not like waiting, and get frustrated when others show no urgency. I have been behind a seasoned citizen in a walker, while exiting a plane, thinking that I could easily rush past them. I am aware that I sometimes see others as a barrier to getting where I want to be. Today’s lesson is about purposely pausing. In his final chapter, Peter includes “reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking”. Central to that idea is that we need to pause to refocus on the basics, particularly when things are most hectic. He urges them to “recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets” and “by our Lord and Savior”. There are times when raw emotion, fatigue or misinformation can cloud our judgement. Peter also tells them: “you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires”. There will always be opportunists waiting. They fan the flames of discontent. They attack foundations of truth and offer a false hope. In discouragement, our faith can get shaky. We want to see evil punished quickly. Peter warns, they will ask: “Where is this ‘coming’ He promised?” This question is a direct attack on the reliability of scripture and the promise of salvation. Once the seed of doubt is planted, we are tempted to look for a quick fix to the problems we see.
No matter how disgusted we are by corruption, we need to remember that God’s mercy is beyond our comprehension. Peter explains that those who stir up anxiety “deliberately forget… long ago by God’s word…” God formed the world, and God also promised a day of judgement. Peter declares a profound truth: “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.” Before I received God’s forgiveness and restoration, I was very quick to condemn others. We want injustice righted and the guilty swiftly punished, yet some of us took some time to comprehend God’s grace. Peter reminds us all that “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” Friend, are you shoving God’s mercy aside to get what you want right now?
Peter closes the letter with an unshakable conviction. First: “The day of the Lord will come like a thief.” That means that it will be unexpected. The ‘Day of the Lord’ is a term used by OT Prophets and NT writers representing the fulfillment of the promise. It refers to the God’s deliverance of His people, Israel. It refers to the return of Christ for His bride, and it refers to judgement for Satan and those that stand against God’s righteousness. Knowing that day is near, he asks believers, “what kind of people ought you to be?” Peter answers: “You ought to live holy and godly lives”. Although “That day will bring about the destruction”, “we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth”. Peter tells believers to “make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with Him.” Notice he does not say, dividing, accusing or retaliating. He says again, “our Lord’s patience means salvation.” He references the scholarly writings of the apostle Paul, noting “some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort”, leading “to their own destruction.” It is always wise to go directly to the original source to verify information, rather than accept an opinion. He says, by doing this, you will pause, and “not be carried away by the error of the lawless.” The lawless here are those that reject God’s restraint. He urges believers to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” Friend, lets seek peace with Him, so that “To Him be glory both now and forever!”