The Full GospelSample

What Is God Waiting For? // The Gospel According to Peter

In yesterday’s reading, we looked at one of the most common questions people ask about God. Today, we’re going to look at another popular question: “Why is God taking so long?”

If God can, and He will, someday deal with evil and suffering, then why not today? What is God waiting for?

These are totally fair and appropriate questions. And when we ask these questions from a place of humility and curiosity, we can find good and helpful answers in God’s Word.

Other times, people will use these questions as a way to discredit God and tear down our faith. That’s exactly what the Apostle Peter warned about in one his letters when he wrote:

Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 2 Peter 3:3-4 NIV

Peter was warning believers that in “the last days” (the time between Jesus’ resurrection and His return) people, who are being led by sin and selfishness, will ask, “When is Jesus coming back? Is He even coming back? If He is as special as you Christians believe, then why does it seem like a whole lot of stuff is the same as it was before He showed up?”

The people Peter talks about didn’t believe Jesus would return and used His seeming “delay” as a way to attack the truth of Christianity. If we aren’t careful, those questions can create doubts in us that drive us away from God. But if we choose to be faithful, then those doubts and questions can actually bring us closer to God and build our trust in Him and His Word. Why? Because questions are always searching for an answer. And because God is so kind and so wise, He gives good answers to life’s biggest questions.

It’s just a few verses later where Peter answers the question, “Why hasn’t Jesus come back yet?”

But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:8-9 NIV

Peter begins by giving us perspective. God is eternal, meaning He has no beginning or ending. He has always been and will always be. This matters because what feels like forever to us (a thousand years) is a blink of an eye for God (a day). God is above and beyond time itself, but He is not above caring for us. That’s why Peter also tells us that the things that seem small to us (a day) are a big deal to God (a thousand years).

When we are missing the right perspective, it’s much harder to trust that God will keep His promises. But when we shift our perspective, we can see that what some people are calling “slowness” is really “patience.” God didn’t forget about us. He didn’t change His mind. He isn’t breaking His promises. He’s waiting. But for what?

… Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 NIV

God is waiting for as many people as possible to turn their lives over to Him. He wants everyone to be saved. He’s giving us time to throw ourselves on His mercy and receive forgiveness because He doesn’t want anyone to perish! And while it’s true that the arrival of Jesus will be majestic and wonderful, it will also signal the end for those who have rejected God and His kingdom.

As followers of Jesus, we endure suffering so they might receive salvation. Which, as painful, frustrating, and heartbreaking as it may be, is one of the most Jesus-like things we can do because that’s exactly what He did for us. He suffered and died for us so we could live forever with Him.

In the Old Testament, when God first described Himself to the people of Israel, this is what He said:

Then the Lord came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the Lord. And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” Exodus 34:5-7 NIV

God is compassionate and gracious. He is slow to anger. He is patient. He overflows with love and is forever faithful. His love and forgiveness reaches across thousands of generations.

Yet, He is also just. He will make every wrong right. Evil and wickedness will be dealt with—including the evil and wickedness inside of us, either through forgiveness or judgment. And God’s desire is for all people to receive forgiveness and be saved.

This is why God is waiting. He is patiently giving people an opportunity to choose life with Him.