The apostle Peter has been
very clear about a prophecy concerning the dissolving of the heavens,
it's elements, and the earth, and he has told his readers how they
should be knowing these things shall come to pass. In chapter three
and verse fifteen he tells more of the reason that the Lord seems to
delay His carrying out of this promise. We read:
And account that
the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our
beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath
written unto you;
The verse begins, “And
account that the longsuffering of our Lord is
salvation;” Peter tells his
audience to “account”
which means “to consider, deem, or think” that the
“longsuffering” or
“patience, endurance, constancy, steadfastness,
perseverance, forbearance, slowness in avenging wrongs” of “our
Lord is salvation” or “deliverance, preservation, and
safety”. In other words, the Lord Jesus waits patiently for all who
will to be saved from the destruction to come. God's desire is not to
condemn mankind, but rather to save it. The gospel of John in chapter
three verse seventeen tells us this:
For God sent not his
Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through
him might be saved.
As
the Lord delays His dissolution of things that currently are, He is
waiting for more people to come to Him and be saved.
The
verse goes on to add, “even as our beloved brother Paul also
according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;” It
is interesting to note that Peter mentions “Paul” in this
verse, and by appearance it shows that Peter read Paul's letters.
Paul who was also an apostle wrote much about the salvation of man
particularly in the books of Romans and Galatians but also in each of
his books. Note too that Peter calls him “beloved brother”
which is remarkable since at one point Paul, who was Saul at that
time, persecuted the church. The very idea that Peter acknowledged
Paul's words as “wisdom” but also note that he is a
“beloved brother” should show Peter's readers the ability
for the salvation of man to affect a person completely. Paul who was
once estranged and an opponent to Christianity now was a brother and
promoter of the same.
Are we
longsuffering when referring to the salvation of man? Do we exhibit
our Lord's patience, endurance, and forbearance with others who do
not know Him as yet? Have we considered that the delay of the
destruction of things as we know them may be a further opportunity
for others to come to know our Savior Jesus? As we ponder these words
and perhaps the “wisdom” of Paul the apostle, let us be
reminded that though we may desire the Lord to hurry with His return
and judgment of this world, His delay will only mean someone else
comes into the kingdom of God. Maranatha, Lord Jesus.
Next
time we learn more about Paul the apostle's writings, so read ahead,
and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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