“Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers walking after 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 the creation” (2 Peter 3:3,4).
TEXT — 2 Peter 3:1-4
Sometimes in military life, soldiers will rush to meet a deadline, only to be told to pump the brakes shortly after. It’s a frustrating phenomenon. While waiting for the Gulf War, which formally began on January 17, 1991, some soldiers did experience frustration, and some instances of discharging their weapons in a noncombat situation occurred. However, this was not a widespread or intended act of combat. It was primarily done out of boredom and frustration, leading to some accidental shootings.
In Christianity, we are called soldiers of Christ and often prepare only to wait for the second coming of Christ. The exact date and time of this coming is unknown, except to the Father. Some believers, particularly those in the days of Apostle Peter, listened to scoffers,questioning the likelihood of Christ returning as promised. These scoffers argued that nothing significant has happened since creation to lend credence to the promise of God to come and establish His kingdom on earth. They overlooked the first coming of Christ, just a few short years before, a promise fulfilled. Peter points out biblical incidents from Noah’s day that these scoffers overlooked.
We struggle with delays and do not like to wait. Our culture abhors waiting. Yes, we wait less today than men have ever waited. Today, travel and communication have become very fast. Cooking meals takes minutes instead of hours, and people now buy expensive items like cars and homes on credit rather than saving. These are items people used to have to wait until they had cash to buy. Many are also not waiting until marriage for intimacy.
Men do not enjoy waiting for anything, or anyone, including waiting for God. However, believers throughout history have waited on God. Noah waited 120 years for the flood. Abraham and Sarah waited 25 years for their promised son, and their descendants waited over 400 years for the Promised Land. Critics who doubt God’s timing are wrong. We should remain patient, as God will come at His own time. Their argument is scripturally baseless. Let us keep waiting patiently, for He will come when He will come.
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
