It’s wet here. It rained heavily all day yesterday and is raining again this morning. The forecast is rain every day until Saturday.
That’s not unusual. Given where we live on the Lower Mainland. I was surprised when I looked at the forecast, though. It showed 50 meters of rain was forecast. Although it was an obvious typo and should have read mm, it did catch my attention.
Fifty meters of rain, that’s about 165 feet. We’re talking about a flood of biblical proportions. I envisioned animals pairing up and heading for Israel.
This is now the second letter that I am writing to you, beloved. In both of them I am stirring up your sincere mind by way of reminder,that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, “Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.” For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. 2 Peter 3:1-9 ESV
Fortunately, while we may have some minor flooding locally, it’s not going to be at the point where we should be boarding the Ark.
The account of that flood demonstrates God’s wrath against sin, but it also clearly shows His mercy. I don’t doubt that the sin of the world today approaches or even exceeds that of Noah’s day. Fortunately for us, God promised never to destroy the world in that way again.
It is only by his grace and patience that the world isn’t destroyed and humanity isn’t wiped out as we speak. God would be just and fair to destroy it all because of His rebellion. Many people recognize the evil of the world and the fact that we are not destroyed as “proof” that the Lord does not exist. Peter directly addresses this thinking.
I’m grateful for His patience. Part of me wants to cry out, “Come now. LORD!” but then I think of those unsaved, and I want Him to delay. He isn’t worried about what I think the right moment will be. He knows it. Frankly, I’m glad He has to make the call rather than you or me.
How do we live as we wait?
We live each moment to the best of our abilities in service to Him. When we fall, we repent quickly and turn back to Him. We strive to tell others about Him at every opportunity.
Let’s see our eyes and the Lord and serve with grateful hearts.
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Tribulation produces perseverance
