The Lord Is Not Slack

Why does God wait to fulfill the promise of the return of Christ?  Peter understood the reason and articulates it in our text.  The scoffers, to whom he refers in verses 3&4, ask the question, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?’  In essence, what they are saying is that God has failed to fulfill His promise of Christ’s return.  Peter points out that God is not slack concerning His promise as certain people would reckon it.  The reason Peter gives is that God is long-suffering towards His people, unwilling that any of His people should be excluded from His grand plan of redemption.  He is not willing that any for whom Christ died ‘should perish but that all should come to repentance.’  To summarize this idea, God will not fulfill His promise of Christ’s return until all those for whom Christ died have been saved.  Thus we continue to teach and preach Christ knowing that He is using the proclamation of Christ to call His people unto Himself.  When the grand plan of redemption has come to fruition, Christ will return to complete all that God has promised.  With all the rest of the believing folk we say, ‘Even so come, Lord Jesus.’  God is as good as His word.

Our Good and Faithful God,
we rejoice that You keep Your Word in every age.
We praise You that You will accomplish Your plan,
in every detail and that Christ will come again.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning