Dec. 10, 2017 Text: 2 Peter 3:8-14
Dear Friends in Christ,
A man came to the Lord and asked, “Is it true for you a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day?” The Lord said, “Yes.” The man continued, “And is it true that to you a penny is like a million dollars and a million dollars are a like a penny?” “Yes,” said the Lord. The man said, “May I have a penny?” The Lord responded, “Yes. Tomorrow.”
Oh, how impatient we are. The first video game that my family had was Pong and it had 28 bytes. The newest I-phone has over 4 billion bytes. And it is still not fastest enough for some. We wait through Advent days while the world around us is already acting as though “It’s Christmas!” Where are you on the Patience/Impatience scale? And what about when it comes to the Lord? This 2nd Sunday in Advent . . . Here it comes…wait, wait, wait . . .
“GOD’S PATIENCE IN OUR IM(PATIENCE)”
We may be impatient with God’s patience. Some in Peter’s day were becoming impatient with God’s patience. As they faced scoffers and persecutors, it seemed as if the Lord was never coming back.
Do we ever accuse God of slowness? Why can’t I get better as I lay here in bed? Lord, I sure wish you would get my child heading in the right direction. Why won’t my spouse come to church when I’ve been praying all these years? Will my retirement community ever address my problems? Where is God? Why won’t He use His power to end my problems?!
The fact is God is not slow but wishes that no one would perish. God’s patience is for a gracious and glorious purpose. If Christ returned at our convenience – think of the souls that could be lost. Christ died for them too.
The Day of the Lord is going to come and creation as we know it will pass away. Buildings and monuments and structures we have grown to love will be no more. The event will be stunning and spectacular. Creation will pass away but God’s Word will not pass away.
Knowing this, what sort of people ought we to be? People who scoff and doubt? No, we ought to be people who live in holiness and godliness. People who trust in God to get us out of the sick bed. People who know the Lord will lead our children in the right direction. People who watch the spouse, led by the Holy Spirit, coming to worship. People in the retirement community who have hope in the Lord their needs will be met. This is what we ought to be, often not what we are.
Yet, for us, the Son left the splendor of paradise to live in this sinful and awful world. For us, the Son humbled himself as a Servant. For us, the Son went to the cross and grave. For us, the Son will return in glory and gather His Church.
His promise is a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. Unlike our “creations” which are temporal and artificial, His promise is for something far greater. “In which righteousness dwells.” Where all is holy and godly, where we suffer no more sadness and doubt and pain, even from our own sin.
During Advent we look back to remember how surely God keeps promises, leading to the manger. We look forward to this promise yet to be kept, knowing God is faithful.
Therefore, we shall be at peace. We will be found in Him. We are reconciled with God by Jesus’ atoning death. That is, we have peace from Christ and through Christ and in Christ. As God’s servants we are messengers of peace; as God is patient, desiring repentance, so Advent, awaiting Christ’s return, is time to prepare others.
Medicines have them. Batteries have them. Coupons have them. Warranties have them. Even sour cream has an expiration date! So does the world. And so does every person living in this world. But the date isn’t posted or printed for us to see.
The Advent reality is that the world’s days are numbered. Its expiration is part of the salvation story. Is the Lord’s return something you are impatient about? Sit down, relax. The return of Christ is both promised and certain.
God’s patience in your im(patience). Stop fretting. We wait in holiness and godliness and have the promise – peace in Christ. Even in our impatience with all the things wrong in the world, our patient Lord is there for you. It’s coming…I feel it…the Pastor is slowing down a little bit…The trumpet blast and….
Amen.