God of Patience
2 Peter 3:1–13
They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming?” 2 Peter 3:4

Peter responds to the scoffing that God’s judgment is long in coming by relating it to the previous judgment of the world by flood. He makes the following points.

First, the views of scoffers are based on ignorance, and a willful ignorance at that. That is, they have willfully closed their minds to the abundant evidence that God does not tolerate evil and that he eventually does intervene to judge wickedness. It is not that the evidence for a coming judgment is not there. It is. It is because people willingly close their minds to what is coming. Why do they do this? Peter does not hesitate to say that it is so they can follow “their own sinful desires” (v. 3). They reject warnings of judgment in order to continue on their own evil way.

Second, Peter explains God’s delay in sending judgment. It is true that from our standpoint the judgment is slow in coming. But this is not because God is indifferent to sin or, worse yet, because he does not exist. It is because God’s timing is not our timing and because he delays his judgment in order to give people opportunity to repent. Peter says, “But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 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” (vv. 8–9).

Peter’s third point is that the judgment is inevitable. It may be delayed but it is no less certain for that fact. How can Peter be so certain? It is because God has said that this is what he will do and because he has already done it once in destroying the earth by flood in Noah’s period.

Peter’s last point is an application: “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives . . . ” (v. 11 NIV).

We do not know when God’s second and final judgment will come, but it is coming closer hour by hour, minute by minute. It could be at any time. These are serious thoughts. Allow them to move you to faith in Jesus Christ, our ark of salvation, and to live a godly life for him.

Taken from Come to the Waters by James Boice ISBN 9798887790954 used with permission from P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg NJ 08865

Scripture quotations are from the ESV (the Holy Bible English Standard Version) copyright 2001 by Crossway a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved.