Where Is The Promise?

2 Peter 3:1-12

Advent is a time of expectation. In it there is a longing for redemption, reconciliation, and restoration. Israel was a long time in waiting for the coming of the messiah. And we too have been waiting a long time for the second coming of Christ. Every new advent season I imagine that this could be the last one before Christ comes. Many advents have gone by and still no return. But yet there will come one advent season that will be the last and to the redeemed that ushers it in, it will only be the beginning of an eternity with God.

There was some already in Peter’s time that grew weary of the promise. They were skeptically asking “Where is the promise of his coming?” Peter assured his readers that just as God flooded the earth in Noah’s day, he would “melt the heavens with fervent heat” at Christ’s second coming to judge the world. Peter is trying to encourage watchfulness and engaging in prayer by hastening the day of Christ. In other words what will usher in his return will not necessarily be some great event, but a church crying out “Even so, come Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)

Until then we see the patience of the saints and the patience of God being manifested in the world. The patience of the saints is seen in its enduring suffering and focus in sharing the gospel. The patience of God is seen in the fact the he doesn’t want anyone to perish, but give all the opportunity to repent. So the challenges before us in this advent season is

Patience in waiting

Focus on reaching the lost

Praying “Even so, come Lord Jesus!”

God keeps his promises! Paul said “The promises of God are in him (Jesus) yes and amen! (2 Corinthians 1:20) Let’s these three challenges be our guide as we celebrate this advent season, and who knows, maybe this will be the year of our Lord!

Pastor Robby