Wait for it! It won’t be late.
Good news for the Christian Youth
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.
-2 Peter 3 : 9 (Amplified Bible)
The verb translated as “not slack” [is bradúnō, which] means to delay or tarry.
God’s so-called “tardiness” as viewed by some people [as some understand slowness] is only a delay with respect to their time schedules, not His. In fact God’s time schedule is modified by patience, which is a major attribute of the heavenly Father (as highlighted in Romans 2:4; 9:22).
Human demands about time do not apply to the promises of God.
Relevance to Christian Youth Organisations
While this scripture was referring to the return of Christ; it also applies to our everyday lives. There might be things around us which we have been praying about and might be getting discouraged thinking God is delaying in responding. Others around us might be asking us- Where are the promises of God? They are not evident in your life yet you profess Christ daily. They might even be saying It’s been too long. God will not do it for you.
In verse 8, Peter urged his readers to remember that the Lord is not bound by human time. For God, a thousand years is like a day and vice versa. Peter’s point is that God does not suffer the limitations of time, or confusion about it, the way we human beings do.
Here in this verse, Peter insists that we cannot apply human demands about time to the promises of God. He is not slow in keeping His promise. God is the one who made the schedule: He cannot be “late.”
Instead, God keeps every promise at the perfect time for His glory and for the good of those He loves.
May we avoid being swept into a mind-set that accuses God of inactivity. Let us instead glory in His amazing grace towards each one of us.
And even in terms of Christ’s return, verse 9 indicates God’s display of patience is motivated by His desire that none be lost. The reason why Christ has not yet returned is that every day before He returns is a day of grace and represents the possibility of more people turning in repentance toward Him.
It gets better!
God is never late. He is always on time. He is never delayed by outward circumstances or by others. He is always in control. His motive is always love.
So do not lose hope. Hold on to your faith.
As Habakkuk prophesied:
“The vision will still happen at the appointed time.
It hurries toward its goal.
It won’t be a lie.
If it’s delayed, wait for it.
It will certainly happen.
It won’t be late.” (Habakkuk 2:3)
Thank you.
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