2 Peter 3:1-9

 The twilight of another year brings the inevitable opportunity for reflection and analysis. What was the past year like? Did I accomplish what I set out to accomplish? What were the highs and lows of my year? What did I leave unfinished that I now need to complete? Such annual reflection is common in most every aspect of life. Turn on the television and the media outlets perform the same kind of reflection and analysis of the year. Program after program are focused on the year in review. Corporations perform the same type of reflection and analysis as they look at their balance sheets. So for people like you and me such reflection and analysis is not at all abnormal. In fact, I believe the process to be both healthy and necessary as we transition from one year to another.

Reflection is not a concern for us, unless the reflection causes us to get stuck in our past accomplishments and/or failures. What is a concern for us is the analysis that often accompanies the reflection. When it comes to the plans and purposes of God for our lives we have to be cautious that we do not employ the same analytical methodology of the world that inevitably leads to conclusions that are misleading at best and just plain wrong at the worst. There are some things I heard God say in the past year, and I spoke those things, but they did not happen. To employ the analytical methodology of the world I must therefore conclude that either I was wrong or that God was wrong, or maybe that God is just slow.

We know that such an analysis is not according to faith and therefore inappropriate, but we fail prey to it nonetheless because we are bound to our mistaken notions of time. We are limited and therefore bound by the constraints of time, but God is limitless and therefore boundless. Our sovereign God, not bound by our constraints, is free to move as He chooses, in the time that He chooses. That does not mean, however, there are not reasons why we may not have accomplished what we believe we should have. That does not mean that there are not reasons why it might appear God is slow in keeping His promises.

Peter in his second letter was primarily concerned with the second coming of the Lord and addressed the doubt that was being cast on His appearing. There were those in Peter’s day that wanted to attach exact dates and times for His return and it seemed that His hesitation in returning was evidence that He was not coming back. Peter writes his letter to combat this view that was gaining prominence, but in the process latches on to some absolute truths we dare not ignore.

1. God is faithful (Literally, He does not hesitate).

2. God is patient. Patience is a part of God’s character. It took Noah years to build the ark, all the while preaching repentance to everyone.

3. God expects us to repent first before He will fulfill His promises and blessings. We are not in the position to negotiate and we are not in the position to put our confidence in the flesh and follow later.

4. Being patient does not mean God is incapable of being quick. God wants to prosper us.

God is not slow when it comes to his promises. The Apostle Paul writes, “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God” (2 Corinthians 1:20). Whatever He has truly spoken rest assured it will come to pass. We have to be certain we heard from God and not our flesh, or worse yet, our enemy.

God is not slow! I know it may seem that time has passed you by. I know it is difficult to see others seemingly walk into their promise while you are yet waiting on your own. I know you wonder when it will be your turn, but God does not move according to our timetable. Abraham lived 100 years before the promise of God concerning his life came into view.

God is not slow! Your situation is not a commentary on His faithfulness. He remembers you. He remembers every promise He has ever made to you.

God is not slow! His promises are sure. He’s just waiting for us to walk in obedience to His will for our lives. God’s promises do not have a time expiration date on them, but they do have an obedience expiration date.

God is not slow! As the author of time who knows the end from the beginning, He knows how to show up at just the right. He may not come in the time you want Him but He’ll never be late. He’ll be right on time.

God is not slow! Don’t be deceived whatever God promised He will do. Don’t give up on doing what is right. Don’t get tired your time is coming. Your season of harvest yet looms ahead.

So go ahead reflect on the year you have had. Whatever repenting is needed, do it. Whatever alterations you need to make, make them. We cannot go back and repeat or replay anything that was said or done, but we can move ahead with a fresh determination to do everything right, to dot every “I” and cross every “T.” And, the one thing we can count on is that God will not be slow in keeping His promises.

© 2013 Dr. James H. Logan, Jr.