“Dear friends, this is now my second letter to you. I have written both of them as reminders to stimulate you to wholesome thinking. I want you to recall the words spoken in the past by the holy prophets and the command given by our Lord and Savior through your apostles.
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.”
But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.”
2 Peter 3:1-7 NIV

We know that God’s timing is perfect and that His plans and ways are higher than anything that we as humans could ever conceive or dream up. His ways are perfect. He is the definition of consistency and constancy. There is no flaw in Him, and as hard as the mockery and scoffers may look, they will never come up with a real reason to instill doubt about Him in my heart.

But we do still need to learn patience and faithfulness in regards to His timing and His plans. There are things we long to see accomplished, and we must make a daily, concerted effort to remember that this world is not our home, nor the place our hearts invest in; this is all very temporary.

“Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore; those who are loyal have vanished from the human race. Everyone lies to their neighbor; they flatter with their lips but harbor deception in their hearts.” Psalm 12:1, 2 NIV

We see injustice done. We hear about atrocities and disasters. We see the inherent corruption in humanity around us and we are amazed that God has not yet consumed us all in fire and judgment according to His righteousness, justice and wrath. Everyone is corrupt. There is no one inherently good. Even those of us who follow Christ are plagued with pet sins and poor motivations, lusting eyes and wayward hearts. We wonder, ‘O, Lord, how long?’ and we want to see perfection completed in our hearts, so our struggle with so is no more.

“Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,
who walk according to the law of the Lord.
Blessed are those who keep his statutes
and seek him with all their heart—
they do no wrong but follow his ways.
You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed.
Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees!
Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands.
I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws.
I will obey your decrees;
do not utterly forsake me.
How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart;
do not let me stray from your commands.
I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.
Praise be to you, Lord;
teach me your decrees.”
Psalm 119:1-12 NIV

And so we struggle within ourselves for another day. We lean fully on God for strength, for a spirit of endurance. We see sin, long for wholeness and holiness and we trust in His perfect timing. We know He has not forgotten us or become lax in His justice.

“By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

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. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare.”
2 Peter 3:7-10 NIV

While we might be rash, quick to judgment and condemnation, our Lord and Master is patient and merciful. Every day that passes without judgment is another day of grace and we should all be thankful for that sad it allows us another day to GoLove others for the sake of Christ. Every new day we are afforded is another day to share God’s love and mercy with those who so desperately need it.

Don’t wish judgment and hell on anyone. It will come soon enough for those who refuse God’s gift of grace. That reality, that those who continue in sin are destined for punishment, should motivate us daily to be bold and stand firm for truth and to speak about God’s grace with everyone we have the opportunity to…