Where Is The Promise?

Knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming?  For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.’

II Peter 3:3&4

God gave Peter insight into the future.  Peter recorded what he understood.  Our text evidences that understanding.  As he writes, Peter describes a situation which he says will occur, ‘in the last days.’  He identifies people whom he calls ‘scoffers.’  Their question, which they ask in a skeptical and sarcastic tone is, ‘where is the promise of His coming?’  What they are challenging is Christ’s promise that He will return.  The rationale is that since the ancients died everything goes on without interruption.  That is based on their perception, which rests upon their accepted idea of history.  What the Scripture details in the following verse, refers to the fact of creation and declares that it is of this that they are, ‘willingly ignorant.’  This really comes down to faith.  Either we believe God’s account or we do not.  Our belief rests upon the underlying thoughts that God is; that He has revealed Himself; and that His revelation of Himself is to a great degree, in the Scriptures.  If we understand what the Scriptures reveal, then our response to the question posed by our text is, our time is not God’s time and our perceptions are not His reality.  Christ has said, ‘I am coming soon.’  We believe Him and trust in His timing.

Our All-powerful and All-wise God,
we rejoice that You do all things in Your own time,
and after the counsel of Your own will.
We praise You that Christ will return,
according to His will and finish what He has started.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning