2. Peter 3:8 But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent.10 But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.
The unswerving truth of God's Word is seen here in 2 Peter where Peter explains that God is not slow about taking home those who have believed in Jesus and are born-again. When we see and experience the early warning signs of the return of Jesus we can get patient or fearful about when He will come. Paul writes this in 1 Thessalonians 4:15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves.17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever.18 So encourage each other with these words.
I believe in God's Word and I believe the Word speaks of a rapture or a "caught up" experience that will take all believers, dead and alive, to be with Jesus. The dead first and then those who are alive. Jesus will return when "it is time" and God's plan will fall perfectly into place. His ways are perfect and the perfect redemption God offers whosoever is perfect also, as this great salvation is offered to you today. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace we are saved, through faith, and that not of ourselves. It is a gift from God, lest anyone should boast. God's grace is offered to all. We put our faith in the saving power of Jesus and receive Him by faith. We are then born again or born in the Spirit and heaven is our destination.
Why would anyone delay? Why would anyone doubt it? Why do we think we have all the time in the world? God answers these hesitations with these words in 2 Corinthians 6:1 As God’s partners, we beg you not to accept this marvelous gift of God’s kindness and then ignore it.2 For God says, At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation. Even in Paul's day, he preached with an urgency for the lost to be saved. That same urgency is propelled forward to our world today. Today is the day to be saved!! Jesus is coming and it will be sooner than you think!! Accept Him today and accept this great promise of salvation for God and accept the abundant life that goes with it. Why wait for tomorrow what you can do TODAY!!
The Pilgrimage Continues...
David Warren
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