2 Peter 3:9: The Lord Is Not Slow To Fulfill His Promise As Some Count Slowness, But Is Patient Toward You

2 Peter 3:9

[9] The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. (ESV)

We are sometimes very impatient with God. We struggle with his timing. As Peter told us in the last verse, one thousand years is as a day to the Lord. God does not seem to be in the same kind of hurry that we are in on a regular basis. We ask the Lord to answer our prayers. If he does not give us the answer that we want, or demand, we are upset.

Peter tells us the reason that we should not be upset with God's timing. God is not "slow," but rather, he is patient toward us. That is a very different perspective. What is God's patience based upon? His desire that we all would come to repentance. Peter is giving us a glimpse into the character of God that encourages our hearts. He is patient with us, desiring that we would repent.

This patience is aimed at those whom he has called unto himself. Sadly, there are those who will never repent. God patiently endures our wickedness, our rebellion, and our sinfulness until we finally respond to his call and receive the salvation he has purchased for us. It is amazing that the holy creator of the universe is willing to receive all kinds of abuse while he waits for us to respond to his call.

This patience does not mean that God won't ultimately bring judgment to those who have rebelled against him with no repentance. God will be exalted. He is a just God. All sin must be punished. Our sin will either find it's punishment on Christ at the cross, as we place our faith in his finished work, or our sin will find it's punishment upon us throughout eternity in hell.

Take a moment and thank God for his patience toward you. His patience reminds you of his gracious goodness. He will patiently bring us to himself. He will patiently meet out justice to the unrepentant.