“If we had true spiritual insight, we would not be amazed by the severity of eternal judgment but by the intensity of God’s mercy.” (The VOICE footnote) “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some people think of slowness; on the contrary, he is patient with you; for it is not his purpose that anyone should be destroyed, but that everyone should turn from his sins.” (2Peter 3:9) The locality where we reside in the beautiful Republic of South Africa is in manyrespects like paradise yet for the uninitiate d it can pose many challenges. Apart from certain negatives that stare you in the face, there are also the minor irritations. One of these is connected to what is cynically termed, ‘African time.’ In other words, many African people have their own unique mindset concerning punctuality. In all of this, we pause and rejoice greatly in the knowledge that God is always right
on time! He is never a moment too early or late in every aspect of life, not least with the repairs and maintenance He does in our lives. The words of Peter in today’s Scripture reinforce this fact.
When we read the text in context, we see that Peter is referring to the end times and as Messiah’s return draws ever closer we yearn greatly for His coming.Sometimes we may even quietly lament: “Why are You taking so long, Lord? Can’t You please just hurry things along a little faster?”
God’s timing may not always be the same as our own and that can get a little uncomfortable if not almost irritating. But, we need to understand that He is not bound in the same way to time and space as we are. He views His eternal purposes through the lens of Divine love and is still wooing people into His Kingdom whilst the sands of time move relentlessly forward. If left to our own devices, we would have been out of here long ago but God is waiting just a few little extra moments of eternity to draw in those souls who finally will yield their lives to Him. And we can cooperate with God in this too as we pray night and day for the salvation of the lost. I wonder who will be that last person who comes to faith that will signal the final blow of the heavenly shofar? No doubt everyone will be shaking his hand in Heaven!
Just one more thing: Peter makes a startling statement here at the end of the verse which appears specifically for believers. By implication He exhorts us to occupy our time well as His labourers in the vineyard, seeking to draw ever closer to Him whilst there is yet time so we might not forfeit all that He desires for us.
Are there things in our lives that are encumbrances, tying us down to the enslavement of sin? Maybe it is not anything mega big or overtly obvious. Often it is the ‘little foxes’ that spoil the vineyard, such as the subtle sins of compromise and mediocrity that seek to lure us into Satan’s ‘playground of delights.’ Let’s not be tied down at the end of the race by any regrets and thoughts of all that might have been that was squandered in Satan’s twilight zone. Rather, let’s choose to walk patiently and wholeheartedly in His calling and destiny. In the fullness of time, we will reap the eternal reward that He is preparing for those who love Himand earnestly seek His face; who w alk humbly in quietness, obedience and confidence, abiding under the shadow of His wings.
