Hurry up! Come on let’s go! Ever said or heard those words?
With so many hard things going on around the whole wide world, things that trouble us and push us to do that which we do not want to do, it is so easy to be as the puppy in the picture and in a rush to get going. We might wonder what GOD is waiting on. But the Bible tells us that GOD has preset the times and places according to HIS own purposes with great wisdom and understanding. The Word of GOD says the eternal GOD has a reason for every seeming delay (Acts 17:26-27, Ephesians 1:11).
Problems and waiting can seem so hard, but James tells us that those very problems we want over are actually developing patience in us that brings us into maturity (James 1:2-4).
“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the LORD’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the LORD’s coming is near. (James 5:7-8).
Those verses speak of 3 groups:
1-Farmers patiently wait for the valuable crop of the earth;
2-GOD the SON, our LORD is patiently waiting for the last of the precious fruit of souls who will believe in JESUS before HE comes to receive us (HIS BRIDE) to HIMSELF. “Nevertheless, the foundation of GOD stands sure, having this seal. The LORD knows them that are HIS…” (2 Timothy 2:19a). Through HIS eternal foreknowledge GOD knows everyone who will believe and who won’t so HE waits until the last one calls upon the name of the LORD before HE calls us to meet HIM in the air. (1 Peter 1:2, 2 Peter 3:9).
3-We who believe in JESUS are patiently waiting for our LORD to come and receive us to HIMSELF so that we may always be where HE is (John 14:1-3,1 Thessalonians 4:13-17).
Earlier in the chapter 3 of 2 Peter we are told of they who are willingly ignorant, they who refuse to receive the truth (2 Peter 3:3-5) then the pronouns change from 3rd person they to the 2nd person us. The 2nd person ‘us’ speaks of a different group of people. “The LORD is not slack concerning HIS promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any (of us , we who do or will believe) shall perish, but that all of (us who will receive the love of the truth) should come to repentance.”
2 Peter 3 verses 3 to 7 talk about scoffers who are willingly ignorant and calls them they in verse 5 and it tells of their end. But beginning in verse 8 there is a drastic change and no longer does it speak of the scoffers who are willingly ignorant. The change is shown by a change the pronouns. They are changed from them to us (speaking of believers in JESUS who are looking in faith for GOD promises to be fulfilled and JESUS to return for us.
So, if you are in a hurry for our LORD JESUS CHRIST to come, do your part, HASTEN that day.
But how can we do that? 2 Peter 3:11-12 state that the way we live and act toward others open up people to hear about JESUS so when we witness of JESUS they are willing to listen. For that day of CHRIST coming for the church will not happen until the last one who will believe comes to JESUS for GOD is not willing that any of us (who will believe)will perish.
Looking unto JESUS the Author and Perfecter of my faith.
hugs
Sharon
wakemyear 