2 Peter 3:8-13: a reflection

8But don’t forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but he is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat; and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. 11Therefore, since all these things will be destroyed like this, what kind of people ought you to be in holy living and godliness, 12looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of God, which will cause the burning heavens to be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? 13But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.

Some in Peter's day mocked the promise of Christ's return: where is it? why the delay? Peter answers with a different way of seeing time and God's apparent slowness. With the Lord a thousand years are as a day; he is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. What looks like delay is not indifference or failure; it is mercy, God holding the door of repentance open, giving time for all who will to come.

Notice how Peter reframes the delay. The mockers see God's apparent slowness as a broken promise, or proof he will not act at all. Peter sees it as patience, as mercy: every day the end has not come is another day of grace, another opportunity for people to turn to God and be saved. God is not slow; he is patient, not willing that any should perish. The delay is a door held open.

That reframes how we hold both God's promises and the present time. When God seems slow to act, slow to fulfill his promises, slow to set things right, we may be tempted to doubt or to grow impatient. But his apparent slowness is patience, mercy, giving time for repentance, and we ourselves are among those his patience has spared. And the right response, Peter says, is not idle waiting but holy living, godliness, and lives that hasten toward the day of God. See God's delays as mercy, not neglect; use the time of his patience to turn to him and to live for him, and give thanks that his patience has held the door open for you.

Lord, when your return seemed delayed, Peter taught that you are not slow as some count slowness, but patient, not wishing that any should perish but that all should reach repentance. When you seem slow to act or to fulfill your promises, help me see your apparent slowness as patience and mercy, a door of repentance held open. Thank you that your patience has spared me, and given me time to turn to you. Keep me from doubting or growing impatient with your timing. Help me use the time of your patience to live in holiness and godliness, and to give thanks that you are patient, not willing that any should perish.