GOD IS WAITING FOR US

"The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:9

Heavenly Father, thank you for Your Son, Your Word and Your Holy Spirit. Let Your Words flow through me, and let Your Children hear. In Jesus' Mighty Name. Amen.

"The Lord is not slack," or slow, regarding His return. He is waiting for His children to come to repentance.

There is a lot of debate or argument on social media concerning the meaning of "repentance." Discernment [understanding God's Word] comes from Holy Spirit. Debate, arguing, conflict, strife and doubt come from Satan.

To avoid misunderstanding, let's look at the definition of "repent" from the King James Bible Dictionary:

Repent

REPENT', verb intransitive [Latin re and paeniteo, from paena, pain. Gr. See Pain.]

1. To feel pain, sorrow or regret for something done or spoken; as, to repent that we have lost much time in idleness or sensual pleasure; to repent that we have injured or wounded the feelings of a friend. A person repents only of what he himself has done or said.

2. To express sorrow for something past.

Enobarbus did before thy face repent

3. To change the mind in consequence of the inconvenience or injury done by past conduct.

Lest peradventure the people repent when they see war, and they return. Exodus 13:17.

4. Applied to the Supreme Being, to change the course of providential dealings. Genesis 6:7. Psalms 106:45.

5. In theology, to sorrow or be pained for sin, as a violation of God's holy law, a dishonor to his character and government, and the foulest ingratitude to a Being of infinite benevolence.

Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:3. Acts 3:19. 
End of Excerpt of Definition.

So, "repent" means to feel sorrow and/or pain for our sins, and to "change our minds" about those sins in our lives. If we continue to willfully sin, we repeatedly commit "the foulest ingratitude to a Being of infinite benevolence" [infinite goodness]. 

​Repentance: A change of mind that leads to a change of heart that leads to a change in actions. This change involves both a turning from sin and a turning to God.

"The Lord is not slack." He is not slow. He has not changed His mind. He didn't lie. He has not forgotten about us. He has not forsaken us. He is waiting for us to repent before He executes His righteous judgment, and sends His promise: Jesus Christ. 

Jesus said, "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Revelation 22:12

How do we make sure now that we will receive our good "reward" when Jesus returns? By doing God's Will, seeking His Will and purpose for our lives. God's Promise: "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise." Hebrews 10:36

What is the Will of God? There are several scriptures that tell us God's Will, but let's look again at  2 Peter 3:9: God is "not willing [the Will of God] that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." 

Do you not know that "God's kindness leads us to repentance," and to seek His purpose for our lives?

Romans 2 AMP

4 "Or do you have no regard for the wealth of His kindness and tolerance and patience [in withholding His wrath]? Are you [actually] unaware or ignorant [of the fact] that God’s kindness leads you to repentance [that is, to change your inner self, your old way of thinking—seek His purpose for your life]?

5 But because of your callous stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are [deliberately] storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

6 He will pay back to each person according to his deeds [justly, as his deeds deserve]:

7 to those who by persistence in doing good seek [unseen but certain heavenly] glory, honor, and immortality, [He will give the gift of] eternal life.

8 But for those who are selfishly ambitious and self-seeking and disobedient to the truth but responsive to wickedness, [there will be] wrath and indignation.

9 There will be tribulation and anguish [torturing confinement] for every human soul who does [or permits] evil, to the Jew first and also to the Greek,

10 but glory and honor and inner peace [will be given] to everyone who habitually does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 

11 For God shows no partiality [no arbitrary favoritism; with Him one person is not more important than another]."

So, God is waiting for us to repent, turn away from sin, and awaken to the Power of His Son, Jesus Christ. When we remember who we are in Christ, then we will receive God's promise:

Hebrews 10 ERV

35 "So don’t lose the courage that you had in the past. Your courage will be rewarded richly.

36 You must be patient. After you have done what God wants, you will get what he promised you.

37 He says,

'Very soon now, the one who is coming will come and will not be late.

38 The person who is right with me will live by trusting in me. But I will not be pleased with the one who turns back in fear.'

39 But we are not those who turn back and are lost. No, we are the people who have faith and are saved."

In 2 Corinthians 10:6, Apostle Paul gives us a direct comparison regarding how God is waiting for us to turn to obedience [repentance] before He revenges His honour and glory only upon such as will not turn to obedience [repentance] ("the Lord is not slack"):

"And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled." 2 Corinthians 10:6

See Matthew Poole's commentary on 2 Corinthians 10:6 following:

Matthew Poole's Commentary (biblehub.com):

Quote: "The apostle certainly means by this, excommunication; which was the rod which he had before mentioned, asking them if they would he should come unto them with a rod. This rod he here threateneth them with; telling them, that he had another weapon of his warfare, of a spiritual nature too, to be used against such as preferred themselves to be believers, but walked disorderly; only he at present spared them, because though a great part of them were obedient, yet there were some amongst them of whose obedience he could not yet glory; but yet he hoped well, and therefore should wait until, by the use of all fair means, (such as exhortations and arguments), he had reduced as many of them as he could unto obedience. But that being done, God had intrusted him with another weapon, with which he would, in the name and by the authority of God, revenge his glory upon the disobedience of others. Herein the apostle hath set a rule and a pattern to all churches, where are multitudes that walk disorderly; not to be too hasty in excommunicating them, but to proceed gradually; first using all fair means, and waiting with all patience, for the reducing them to their duty, who will by any gentle and fair means be reduced; and then revenging the honour and glory of God only upon such as will not be reclaimed." End Quote.

Let's look at Hebrews 10:36 above again: "You must be patient. After you have done what God wants, you will get what he promised you."

What does God want us to do in order to receive His promise? Believe in His Son, have faith in God, repent (regret the sin in our lives, turn away from it, and turn to God):

Believe: "And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house." Acts 16:31

Have Faith: "And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God." Mark 11:22

Repent: Jesus said, "I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish." Luke 13:3

Again, scripture even tells us that God's goodness leads us to repentance: 

"Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?" Romans 2:4

Believe. Have Faith. Repent.

This is also why some of Jesus' final words after His death and resurrection, right before He ascended into heaven, were, "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." Mark 16:15. Because God's children must awaken and repent, awaken from our sleep of Spiritual complacency, before God will give mankind what He promised: 

Romans 13 AMP
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11 "Do this, knowing that this is a critical time. It is already the hour for you to awaken from your sleep [of spiritual complacency]; for our salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed [in Christ].

12 The night [this present evil age] is almost gone and the day [of Christ’s return] is almost here. So let us fling away the works of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light.

13 Let us conduct ourselves properly and honorably as in the [light of] day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and irresponsibility, not in quarreling and jealousy.

14 But clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for [nor even think about gratifying] the flesh in regard to its improper desires."

Of course, Satan does not want us to awaken. Satan can only control us when we are asleep, or in the dark about God's Power.

“And he [Jesus] cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?” Matthew 26:40

God did not leave us stranded in the darkness with Satan. He gave us His Son, His Word, and His Holy Spirit, so we can overcome this world, as Jesus overcame it, and walk in His Light. “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.” Ephesians 5:14

"The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up." Matthew 4:16

God also gave us a way to escape the temptations Satan puts in our path. God wants us to overcome and endure until the end, like Jesus did:

1 Corinthians 10:13 "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

God makes a way for us to escape temptation.

"Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." Luke 21:36

Let God's goodness change your heart. "The Lord is not slack." He is waiting for us!
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May God watch over and protect you. May He shine His Light upon you. May His Holy Spirit guide you. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

​God bless you. Jesus loves you.