Soon!-The promise of His coming. (Pt.1)

(Part 1)

“Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?  For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”-2 Peter 3:1-4

In the book of Acts 1:9-11 we read how Jesus appeared to His followers one final time on the Mount of Olives. As He ascended into heaven the angels of God declared: “Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing into heaven? This same Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will so come in like manner as you saw Him go into heaven.”

Jesus promised that one day He would return! However, He never said when that day would be. Would it be a week, a year, a thousand years, two thousand years? It seems that the longer it takes for Him to return the less and less convinced some people have become regarding His coming! They declare today the same reservation “Where is the promise of His coming?”

Jesus, however, in several passages hinted that His coming was not going to happen immediately:

In Matthew 25:19 (The Parable of the Talents) it states that “After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.”

In Matthew 24:45-50 (The Parable of the Faithful and Evil Servant) it states “Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his master made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master, when he comes, will find so doing. Assuredly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all his goods. But if that evil servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming, and begins to beat his fellow servants, and to eat and drink with the drunkards, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him and at an hour that he is not aware of.”

In Matthew 25:5 (The Parable of the Wise and Foolish Virgins) it states “But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept.”

It is clear from these passages that Jesus was attempting to prepare His disciples for the fact that His return would not be immediate. But why the delay? I believe that 2 Peter 3:8-9 gives us the very best indication to why the Lord would delay His coming:

“But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

God is not willing that any should perish, but that all would come to repentance! Each day the Lord delays is another opportunity for a lost soul to come to Christ, repent of their sins and receive forgiveness.

Pastor Scott Burr
Dayspring Community Church