“The Lord does not delay His promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.” (2 Peter 3:9)

As human beings, we have chosen to reject God as our Supreme Master and Lord.  We have decided that we want to be the only masters of our own lives.  We have chosen to walk away from Him leaving Him out of our lives completely and breaking our relationship with Him.  However, whether we like it our not, because God is our Creator, He, and only He, is our Supreme Master.  As hard as we may try to deny the existence of God in order to escape His rule over us, it cannot be done.  What is created has no power over it’s creator, we cannot erase Him from existence.

God does not delay the day of His righteous judgement upon this sinful world because He is slack or irresponsible, as some might believe, but delays that day because His desire is for not a single person to die and go to hell.  So, as His disappointment and anger burn against our continued rebellion against Him, He patiently waits for us to repent, to stop living in disobedience to His commands and start living in immediate, radical, and costly obedience to His will, this is repentance.  God wants us back as quickly as possible.

Some believe that there is still plenty of time before the judgement day comes, but Jesus tells us something entirely different that ought to make us stop and think.  He says:

“For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes as far as the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:27).”

That day is going to come and go like lightning that strikes without warning.  As impossible as it is to predict where and when lightning is going to strike, it is equally impossible to predict the day or hour of Christ’s return.

“Now concerning that day and hour no one knows—neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son —except the Father only (Matthew 24:36).”

God is patient, but His patience will come to an end and He will come back to judge the world for our rejection of Him as Lord and Savior.  Yes, Savior.  God has the right, power, and authority to destroy every one of us for our sin.  However, He chose to love us and save us from His own wrath.  He sent His one and only son, Jesus, to suffer and die for our rebellion, in our stead, so that we might be forgiven and be saved from His wrath.  Look at what He tells us:

“But God proves His own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, we will be saved through Him from wrath (Romans 5:8-9).”

God wants all of us, with no exceptions to be reconciled with Him so that we can enjoy a personal relationship with Him and have eternal life with him in heaven.  Here’s what he says:

“That is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed the message of reconciliation to us (2 Corinthians 5:19).”

Jesus Himself tells us that the only way to be reconciled to God is to believe in what He did on the cross, for us, and then turn from following our own ways, to follow Him:

“My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish—ever! No one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all. No one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand (John 10:27-29).”

If today were judgement day, where would you spend eternity?  If you really don’t know and want to be sure, here’s how God says you can be sure:

1. Recognize that you’re a sinner and thank Him for sending Jesus, His only Son, to die on the cross in order to pay the ultimate price for your sin (Romans 3:23; Romans 5:8), and raising Him from the dead in order to give you eternal life (John 3:16-18; Ephesians 1:13-14).
2. Tell Him that, at this moment, you willfully and intentionally choose to stop living your life in rebellion against Him and choose to start living your life as His disciple; that you commit to seeking Him, every day; following Him, every day; and that you will strive live in immediate, radical, costly obedience to Him and only Him, no matter the cost – even if it costs you your life (2 Corinthians 5:15; Romans 10:9-10). Then, do it.
   This is the only way you can become God’s child (John 1:12) and experience the fullness of His love, goodness, joy, peace and perfect care. Do this right now!

If you did this, God is so happy with you and wants to start working in your life and through your life. Please send me a message letting me know that you did it so that I can pray for you as you begin a new life in Christ.

Now, wouldn’t it be a great thing for your family, loved ones and friends to have the peace, joy, love and security you now have?! Go tell them, right now, why you chose to follow Jesus. Let me know how it goes. I look forward to hearing from you.

In Christ’s love,

Phil