2nd Peter 3:5-10 GOD DOSEN'T DELAY - HE WAITS New believers in Christ during our day as well as when Peter wrote this letter, are subjected to the opinions of those who deliberately reject historical and physical evidence of God and His promises. Two events that were observable are used by Peter to prove that the false teachers were wrong in their teaching. They were saying that everything was the same as at the beginning and there was no reason to believe Christ was coming again. Creation and the flood are evidence of divine intervention in the unfolding of the ages. After the first day of creation, water surrounded the earth and the water on the earth was confined into oceans or under the crust of the earth's surface. In that position they stayed until the flood came in Noah's day when the waters above the earth and in the earth came together again.
The ordered system (cosmos) "overflowed" and became the cataclysm that destroyed the whole world system including human beings, except for those in the ark. The world was not annihilated but the world "perished" as in being devastated as to its past, and transformed as to its new condition. The fossil record is used by scientists, philosophers and liberal theologians to "prove" their theories while they refuse to consider proven data. Both hardened sediment (rocks) and unhardened sediment cover most of the earth. Fossils contained in this hardened sediment is a record of the flood, not of evolution.
God's word brought the world into existence. God's word brought the destruction of the wicked works of men by the flood. God's word will in the future bring destruction by fire on this groaning creation that has been polluted and exploited in wasteful abandon. There is enough atomic energy in a glass of water to power and ocean-going vessel. In His own time God will "hit the switch" to burn up the old creation and the works of sinful mankind. God has intervened in the past and will do it again in the future. All of the opinions of men mean nothing when they are contrary to the plans of God. He will do what needs to be done in the cleansing fire of righteous judgment.
The scoffer’s argument was why has the coming of the Lord not happened? Why the delay in bringing about the consummation of all things? It is hard for us to even consider an "eternal now." No beginning, no middle, no end - defies an explanation or description we can put into words. God lives in a timeless state. Measuring time is only relative with God. It is like one grain of sand on a beach. God stands above time. Peter does not say that a thousand years means one day. God waits patiently, because He has an objective He wants to see take place. Human beings get impatient because we live in a time frame.
Scoffers of all ages recognize that there has been divine intervention in the past. That is what the flood - divine intervention. Scoffers don't understand the reason for the delay of a holy God is in control of things and events. Christ has not returned, so the scoffers say He won't. Believers know that God keeps His promises and our Lord will return. We all need to remember God is waiting patiently for other people to come to repentance. God works in time and is not limited in any way by the constraints of time. He is not unable to act nor is He unwilling to act. He is right on His schedule and for His own reasons doesn't take counsel from men as to when He should take action.
How gracious it is of God to suffer the scoffers to continue their rant against Him. He is waiting even for them to have a "change of mind" - repent toward God and put their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. The lost must "come" - make room for repentance that is genuine - and accept what God's word says with humility and faith. Each person must make room for the gift of salvation by repentance and faith in Christ.
There is no question "the day of the Lord" will come. It is a promise. History has proved that God has acted in the past, and we must accept the promise that He will keep His promise in the future. He will come as "a thief in the night." Suddenly and unexpectedly that which He has promised will happen. There will be no warning. A false sense of security makes people complacent regarding sin, punishment for sin and coming judgment.
Coming judgment should motivate the Lord's people to be actively involved in seeking the lost and being conscious of the state of their own souls. It is possible for believers to become so complacent about the Lord's return that we look at the world and events without a sense of urgency. The lost need to be saved. When God brings judgment in the earth, the fire stored within the heavens and earth will be released by God, not men who have a button to push. God will do His own judging work. He will not let a president, prime minister or world ruler do what He reserves for Himself.
The chemical energy contained in the elements will be released into heat, light and sound, and everything will be laid bare. Cities, buildings, memorials, inventions and all that mankind boasts of will be totally destroyed. People will stand before God with nothing to boast of or claim as their right to be in His eternal kingdom. One who is "born of God" enters God's kingdom because of who he or she is, not because of what they have done to earn a place there. God is waiting; longsuffering - but He will not wait forever.
WAITING "Why has He not come, what's the delay?" That is what we hear scoffers often say They don't realize the difference between delay and wait The one is motivated by love, the other by hate. God does not panic, everything is under control He waits because He loves each and every soul So, in spite of the mockery, scoffing and scorn He's waiting for the last one in the church to be born.
Then without warning, our Lord Jesus will come Every believer by Him will be called home No time to prepare when the shout is given Right now, is the time to prepare for heaven. God does not need to give an explanation He has provided a free, full salvation It is a gift paid in full by the Savior's death He expects us to act on what the word of God saith.
How gracious of Him to wait all this long God's expectation is for sinners to face what is wrong And turn in repentance to do what is right Then they will know the difference between darkness and light Afterwards will rapidly unfold prophetic fulfillment Justice will prevail according to God's commandment God's children should be holy in work and in walk As we wait for the conclusion of God's prophetic clock.
"Holy Father, in the light of current events, the character of the age and the complacency of Christendom. I am challenged in my soul to be committed faithfully to Thy word, Thy people and the claims of the Gospel. In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen."