There are a lot of false teachers today, and scoffers, as the Bible tells us there would be. Some ask “where was God?” in the middle of a crisis. ‘Where are the signs and proof that He will return? Why does a loving God let good people suffer?” Being a true, strong Christian today is hard due to such negative attitudes toward anything deemed to be good or righteous.
In his second epistle Peter warns believers about false teachers and encourages us to keep a close watch on our personal lives. We must be diligent and determined in our Christian walk. Once we are saved by faith, we are to add to it: virtue; and to virtue knowledge; and to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; and to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity (love). 2 Peter 1: 5-7
Peter reminds the scoffers that God may be longsuffering in order that all might have a chance to repent; but judgement will come to all. This alone should be enough for us Christians to work harder at living godly lives.
2 Peter 1: 16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.
Jesus and His disciples, along with all the characters written about in the Bible, are real people with real stories that most of us can relate to in some way.
Peter understands that some things found in the Bible are hard to understand and some people will fall for the false teachings because they promise liberty and deceive us by their “great swelling words.”
For answers to those who ask “Where is the promise of his coming?” Peter tells us in 2 Peter 3: 8 But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 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.
Did you get that? It says: God is longsuffering to us-ward. His love is directed to us-ward as well… and His thoughts and desires that we follow Him. What a comfort to know too that though the waiting is hard, His reasons for delay and compassion for sinners is always directed us-ward! I am truly thankful too that to God one day is the same as a thousand years… as we all have many to rescue and much to add to our faith!