His Promise

^{2 Peter 3:8-9}

⁸ But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.

Do you ever make a promise? Do you always keep your promises? Do you ever break your promises? Do you expect others to keep their promises? Do you hold them to a higher standard than you do yourself?

Peter tells his readers that the Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness. He is patient towards his readers. He is patient towards us. He does wish for anyone to perish but for all to come to repentance. I believe this is why Jesus has not returned yet. God wants all of us to repent, not perish. He is showing His patience towards us. He will be keeping His promise, no matter how slow we think He is in keeping His promise. It’s kind of like waiting for Christmas. It seems like it will never get here.

In Psalm 77, Asaph asks if God’s lovingkindness has ceased forever. He also asks if God’s promise has come to an end forever. The obvious answer is “no.” These are rhetorical questions. We are to understand that even when we think that God may not be keeping His promise, God is keeping His promise. We just may not like His timing to do so.

In addition to Peter’s statement about God not being slow about keeping His promise, Peter also says that according to God’s promise, we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Are you?

What is God’s promise? How would explain God’s promise to others? Where else in Scripture can we learn about God’s promise?