2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

We have great difficulty grasping God’s time frame, as the very famous verse just before this says. People down through the ages have accused God of not keeping His promises, when later generations have been able to look back and see how, on the contrary, God has kept His promises with amazing faithfulness and detail. You would think that by now we would have learned the lesson, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. The thing that Peter is wanting to point out is the reason why God delays (from our perspective) putting everything right. It is of vital importance that God doesn’t desire the destruction of anyone. In the chapter before this Peter talks at length about false teachers and their destruction, but God doesn’t want even them to be destroyed, He wants them to repent. The devil has made quite a thing of “God sends people to hell. How could a loving God do that?” The thing is, He doesn’t send them, they choose their own ticket. God desires the salvation of every human being, but it must be their own choice as well. The thing is, God is perfectly holy, which means a lot of things, the most basic of which being that He cannot dismiss sin. That fact, coupled with the fact that He is love, is why He sent His Son to die, taking the penalty for our sin. When God did that, how can we doubt that He desires the salvation of anyone?

This is of course the foundation of the Gospel I proclaim, and as such its importance can’t be overstated. It’s interesting how much trouble I have getting people to believe it! Those who haven’t yet met and acknowledged Jesus don’t want to admit their sin has purchased them a ticket to hell, and even many Christians have doubts that God would desire to save some of the people they can think of. That last is one of many reasons forgiving others is vitally important. If we won’t forgive them, we won’t desire and work for their salvation. Those who are committed to evangelism have this truth of God’s heart firmly planted in their minds and hearts.

Father, keep me from forgetting this even as I teach it to others. May every part of my life accurately reflect Your heart, seeking the salvation of all I encounter, proclaiming Your love, grace, and holiness, so that as many as will may repent and believe, for their salvation and Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!