Does God Have A Time-line?

“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. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed.” -2 Peter 3:8-10 (ESV)

Earlier, in Peter’s letter, he warned that there will certainly be doubters, specifically …scoffers, in the “last days” (time between Christ’ resurrection and His return). In the passage above, he gives what must be only the most rudimentary, base, understanding of “God’s time-line”. I cannot even begin to fathom His time-line! Can you imagine a God who knows no “time-line”; certainly not as you or I do? He is free to move forward, backward, wherever He desires within my, as well as your, linear time-frame. With that in mind …it isn’t quite as difficult to understand that one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

So what does this mean to you and I, on a practical level? Well, if we read on …Peter encourages that the Lord is not slack, or slow, in fulfilling the promises made in the written word, which He inspired. He WILL keep His promises. Who would He “lie” to otherwise? Our God is no liar. He has nothing to prove to anyone, nor anyone to “fool”. Either He is not Lord “at all” …or He is Lord “of all”.

Peter encourages that the Lord will come again …like a thief in the night. In my fallible, frail human heart ….I want, quite often, to believe that everyone will be with the Father, in eternity, in His Kingdom. But my heart, which is “deceitful and sick”, according to Jeremiah 17:9, cannot even honestly reconcile this thought with that which God’s own word indicates. Scripture speaks of a hell, which separates us from God for eternity, where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth. Peter describes that the heavenly bodies, and works done on the earth, will be “exposed”. Some manuscripts indicate the word, translated here as ‘exposed’, to be “burned up”!

Whatever it is that God will do with the world as we currently know it ….God’s promises, and His plans, will come to pass. We can bicker, fruitlessly, about how unfair we may think it is that a loving God would even allow His children to spend an eternity in hell. That even feels course rubbing across my emotion and intellect. But rather than trusting “my heart”, which has failed me beofre, I am placing my trust in the One who designed and fabricated my heart. His ways are not my ways. He is coming back ….in all His glorious splendor. But He is waiting, patiently, for you and I to “surrender” to His will.

Salvation is a Two-Edged Sword

“Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall.” -2 Peter 1:10 (ESV)

2 Peter 1:3-6 define the qualities for which we should strive, as partakers of the grace-gift of salvation ….which is bestowed upon God’s “elect” (that is, you and I). Verse 9 states that anyone who does the opposite is “…so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins.”

A life paid for by Christ’ death and resurrection becomes, as the Apostle Paul stated, a “bond-servant” to Christ. While never a perfect submission, it is humbling to consider that we still sin, as those saved from eternal death. That is why it is called “grace”….God’s Riches At Christ’ Expense.

Salvation is a two-edged sword. On the one side… sharp enough to be sufficient to provide salvation for hopeless sinners …who deserve nothing more than the path which we travel. The other side ….expecting a transformed mind; sharp enough to flee from the past sinful desires. This life requires “daily” commitment, re-commitment, devotion, and humbling ourselves, under God’s Word, to submit, “daily”, to His will.

He’s Coming Back!

“…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.” -2 Peter 3:2-4 (ESV)

We celebrate Christmas, in recognition of Christ’ birth; and rightfully so! It is, indeed, something to celebrate …that Christ would put on flesh for us.

We honor and recognize Christ’ death; and rightfully so …as He was the lamb of God, slain on our behalf. His shed blood paid the penalty for our sin!

There is, however, a future event, something not yet occurred …at least in mine and your time-line. Christ is coming back! He will return! It will be in GLORY, and in JUDGMENT, according to Scripture. This is something we should celebrate! No doubt, with a healthy, reverent fear …but more so in absolute awe that not only did Christ die on our behalf …but after all these years ….He’s coming back for us! As He stated before His earthly death ….”that where He is, we may be also.” (John 14:3 -ESV)

My Lord, who am I that You are mindful of me?

"Damn the torpedoes...."

Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way. -Proverbs 19:2 (ESV)

Admiral David Glasgow Farragut (1801-1870), the first senior officer of the U.S. Navy at the time of the Civil War, most certainly would have leaned more toward the later implication in this Proverb. His famous Civil War quote... "Damn the torpedoes, Captain Drayton four bells Jouett full speed!", resulted in a Union victory in Mobile Bay on August 5, 1864. While this snap decision making clearly paid dividends for Admiral Farragut, and is certainly appealing in a Hollywood action scene ....more often than not, careful planning, calculating the cost, weighing pros & cons ...pay dividends here in the real world. At the same time, sooner or later, ya' gotta' make a move! Careful planning is great, but planning to the point of procrastination never gets the job done.

There are two clear implications in this Proverb. To put it into the modern vernacular...

1. "look before you leap", as my mother often reminded me, and...
2. "haste makes waste" ..now ya' know where that came from

When put that way ...the two implications seem almost contradictory. But like most everything in life... "balance" is the key.

Our Heavenly Father made each of us unique; each with qualities that, when made corporate, can move mountains and win victories. I know those who are gung-ho, and I know plenty of folks with very good intentions and ideas / ideals who simply need help getting the ball rolling. There is a time to plan, and most definitely a time to act. As, no doubt, was the case with Admiral Farragut, the key is... having the wisdom to know the difference.

Balance

Ebb & Flow

Life all but handed on a plate
How grateful I can be
Circumstances begin to irritate
How grateful will I be?

For lack of hunger, and abundance of wealth
How grateful I can be
With fading sight, and fleeting health
How grateful will I be?

A desire to grow, and resources plenty
How grateful I can be
Options depleting, closer to empty
How grateful will I be?

Entitled nothing, consumed with all
How grateful I can be
Desiring something, facing a fall
How grateful will I be?

Ever so blessed when all is well
How grateful I can be
Aimed toward a future I cannot tell
How grateful will I be?

Plotting my course down a road I know
Circumstances change.
Ebb & Flow


-Steve Terrell