2 Peter 3:9 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.
And we come to one of my favorite verses and one I frequently quote when I talk about the love the Father has for each of us as sinners, that He wants none to perish but that all would come to know Him and His amazing, forgiving grace and mercy. But have you ever stopped to think about just what this verse means? What promise is He slow in keeping?
The promise that Peter is speaking of in this verse is the return of Christ. The Father is not purposely delaying or putting off what was promised, that Christ would return again ushering in the Kingdom of God. He is not taking His sweet time, keeping a tally of all of the souls needed before the heavens would open. He is patiently planning, patiently waiting, patiently watching…Not delaying.
No, He has a reason that Christ has not returned yet and it is for our benefit that He hasn’t yet. He wants every soul to have the option of hearing the Gospel and being able to choose Him or not, to ask for forgiveness, to repent of sins, and to turn to Him. He wants none to perish. None. Not even one. And every soul that does perish without choosing Him is mourned because He wants ALL to come to repentance and be saved. So He patiently watches. He patiently waits. He patiently rejoices in every soul that is saved.
If Christ were to return today, this very day, would you be ready? Would you have confessed your sins and repented? Would everyone you love have heard the message of Christ and been given the same choice? Would they be ready? And what about those they love? Would they all be ready? So many people have yet to decide, thinking they have time to check out this church thing and the Jesus stuff that people keep selling them… But do they? Do they really have time to dawdle and delay?
We don’t know when it will happen. It will happen in the blink of an eye. Two will be working, one will be taken. Where will you be? Will you be there left wondering where your coworker went? Or will you be with Jesus?
He doesn’t want ANY to perish and we shouldn’t want that either. Why do we tarry with sharing the Gospel? Their very souls are at risk of eternal separation. Why don’t we feel more urgency to tell everyone today, now, of what He did for you and me? He wants ALL to come to repentance. He wants everyone to be saved. He wants no one to perish. Yet here we sit, doing our own thing and not sharing the life saving information we hold.
Don’t wait any longer. Today is the day to open your mouth and share. Today is the day to do your part to make sure everyone you love is ready to meet their Maker. Today is the day that we need to get right with God and get our acts together. What will you do?
Prayer: Lord, Guide me in sharing Your message with everyone who needs it. I feel the burden to “save them all” – I can’t imagine what You must feel. Use me to reach them for You. Amen
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