Friday, June 28, 2019

Not slow so that You can go.

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

Certainly it seems that patience is the opposite of what those in this world want.

Faster car. More stuff added to that car to do more now, not later.  Intersections changed from 4 way stops, to flashing caution lights then to a roundabout because people have no patience to wait.

Phones keep getting upgraded to do more and exercise your brain less. 

At work you are in the midst of exercises to figure out how to streamline and not be impatient.  Removing frustration and delays.

People want instant gratification. They don't want to wait anymore.  Don't want to earn the right to anything, they want it given to them.  From healthcare to food to money to a college education.  They want someone else to pay for it.  Little do they realize that someone else is them.

We indeed live in the day where people are going on as it mentions in Scripture. 

2 Peter 3:4 "and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation.”"

Think really hard about your life and priorities.  I know that for me letting go of things has brought better things from the hands of God.  It's amazing how that is.

My insistence isn't necessarily His will.
A child may insist but the parents will prevail. 

The problem with a society bent on instant gratification is they miss everything that is important.  If we were legally allowed to drive 70 everywhere you would never see the beauty of God's creation.  You would miss the joy on a child's face at seeing them discover something.

But the opposite is as true as it is concerning Jesus.  He's not being reckless about just returning when He wants.  He isn't being impatient about it.  He's being obedient about it.  He stated that the Father appointed the exact time of His return. Jesus is doing what His Father wants.

God's patience towards those who haven't yet come to Christ is great.  But not without limits.  Many people, He knows, will not come to Him and are taken from this world. They were given chances.  Yet their heart was steadfast against God.
By no means is He being slow about fulfilling Scripture.  It's just like what we read about the beginning of the Gospels when Jesus was lead into the wilderness to be tempted.  Satan will not rush things.
He has no power to do so.  He will not goad God into coming at an inopportune time.  As the opening passage says, He isn't wanting anyone to perish but He knows people will. 

That second passage is indeed a voice from today's headlines.  Where is He? If He was coming where's He at?

Think for a moment at the restraint Jesus is showing.  Knowing that mankind is heading right back to what it was before the Flood.  Read how it was!  At that point mankind had pushed God away and only 8 people survived.  His patience has limits.

This time it's not a decision on the limits of patience.  It's on the date the Father had set.  So there's no really accurate gauge to see exactly when.  But Jesus said you will indeed get an idea of how close it is by what you see going on around you.  The evidence will show the time is near. 

So don't procrastinate in your walk with God.  Don't put huge amounts of effort and money into your selfish desires.  If indeed the time is near, as well it is, shouldn't you be found doing what God wants of you rather that anything else?

Scripture has stories in it of bridesmaids who were ready for the groom to come and those who were not.  Some had enough oil for their lamps the rest did not.  While those who did not scrambled to get ready for the groom, He came and only those who were ready went with Him.  The rest were left outside. 

Will you be found by Jesus as those ready for Him or will He find you not concerned or ready at all?   Those who are ready have an expectation of His arrival. Those who are not do not.

I am excited about His soon return. I am looking forward to being with Him forever.

Are you?  Are you one who is about the Father's business or are you pursuing your own thing? 

Think about it now while there still is a now.  While you still have time.  While His patience still is extended.

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