“…And consider that the patience of our Lord is salvation” (2 Peter 3:15).
Peter wrote that we must wait for our Lord’s return, and if there is a delay in His return, view that delay as the very thing that makes our salvation possible. There is no way to deny the fact that our salvation depends on the Lord’s patience. If he had been as impatient as we were, our opportunity for improvement would have ended long ago. If we are ultimately saved, we will attribute that salvation to our willingness to wait on the Lord.
Opportunity for repentance. Delaying the Lord’s return is not a license to enjoy our sins for a while longer; This is an expanded opportunity to bring those things out of our character. Paul asked the relevant question when he said, “Do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and forbearance, not knowing that God’s goodness leads you to repentance?” (Romans 2:4)
Opportunity for spiritual growth. In terms of our spiritual maturity, none of us are where we should be. We need more time to grow, and that is what the Lord is giving us through His patience. While we wait, we must use every day as a day of growth.
Opportunity to preach religion. The Lord’s forbearance not only means salvation for us, but it can also mean salvation for those around us. The more time we have before the end, the more time we have to spread His message to others. Every day the world stands still is a day that should be used for evangelism.
When Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, he used an expression that should suggest something more terrifying than can be imagined. He said, “So we also, who work together, urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain” (2 Corinthians 6:1). Do we receive God’s grace in vain? To do so would be to waste the patience and forbearance that God has shown us, that despite the fact that God waited and waited and waited, would be lost. If God has not yet come to judge the world it does not mean that He is indifferent to evil; This means that he has still kept the door of salvation open. His patience is no less than our salvation. If we don’t see this we are the biggest fools in the world.
“Hell is God’s justice; Heaven is His love; Earth is His forbearance” (Anonymous).
Gary Henry – WordPoints.com AreYouaChristian.com
