Page 32 - February 2026 - Truth & Tidings

" he Lord is not slow to fulfill his prom- need to face the fact that God will ultimately

ise as some count slowness, but is
have “the last word”! Heaven’s “wheels” turn
Tpatient toward you, not wishing that
any should perish, but that all should reach slowly but surely.
repentance” (2Pe 3:9 ESV). God’s Amazing Patience
The jeers of atheists and scoffers have So why hasn’t God already stepped in
echoed down through the years as they with decisive action? The amazing answer
attack the Word of God and His plan for is found in the very character of God: His
the ages. Peter reminds us that in the last patient loving concern for sinners. He desires
days men will question the return of Christ: that no one would perish in their sins. His
“Where is the promise of His coming?” Noth- scope of compassion is astounding, for no
ing has really changed for centuries. It’s not one, regardless of their attitude or lifestyle,
unusual to hear people in our day challenge is excluded from His desire for their eternal
the very existence of God: “If there is a God, blessing. God “desires all people to be saved
why doesn’t He do something to clean up and to come to the knowledge of the truth”
this mess?” The short answer is, He will! (1Ti 2:4 ESV). So, He waits and calls with mercy
But not yet. And in one verse, Peter gives and long-suffering. Peter reminds us that the
us three great realities that underline the Lord is not “slow to fulfill his promise” but
time-sensitive actions of the God of heaven. “slow to anger and abundant in lovingkind-
ness ... but He will by no means clear the
Heaven’s Guaranteed Promise guilty” (Num 14:18 LSB). How long has the

Peter reminds his readers that God’s time- Lord waited for a response from your life?
table is not behind schedule and that He is Life’s Essential Purpose
not indifferent to the sin and rebellion of the
world. God has promised to “shake not only The obvious question needs to be asked,
the earth but also the heavens” (Heb 12:26 What’s the purpose for His patience? Peter
ESV) in that day when His wrath against sin gives us the crystal-clear answer in one
is revealed. Interestingly, Enoch, in the early word: “repentance” – a change of mind,
days of the history of this world, prophesied heart and life. Our sin has separated us from
that the Lord would come with 10,000 of His God, showing itself in attitudes of defiance,
saints to “execute judgment on all, to convict independence and unbelief. It has put us on a
all who are ungodly among them of all their collision course with the righteous judgment
ungodly deeds which they have committed of God, but when we acknowledge our sin
in an ungodly way” (Jud 14-15 NKJV). Paul in- and guilt, we will find that there is a Saviour,
cluded the same guaranteed promise when our Lord Jesus Christ, who has suffered for
speaking on Mars Hill: God “has appointed our sins and now invites sinners everywhere
a day on which He will judge the world in to trust Him alone (1Pe 3:18).
righteousness by the Man [Christ] whom Have you come? Graciously, He is still
He has ordained” (Act 17:31 NKJV). We all waiting.