“The Lord is not dilatory (slack) concerning His promise as some men count slackness, but is longsuffering to us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (II Peter 3:9).

Slack (Def): (Gr.) Braduno from Bradus: To delay, Tarry; To be slow in taking action; Dilatory

Slack (Def): (Heb.) Achar: To loiter; Procrastinate, Delay, Tarry

There is a deep assurance in the Scriptures that the Day of the Lord will come as spoken by the Apostles and Prophets though He tarry long with the evil doer in hope he will come to repentance and turn from his evil ways to the Lord and receive the salvation freely offered to all. For, indeed, as the Scripture says He does not wish that any should perish, but that all would come to Him and live.

Peter, in his second Epistle gives us an in-depth look into the promise of God in which we “look for new heavens and a new earth wherein dwells righteousness” (II Peter 3:13b). He exhorts us to “account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation” (v. 15a) for all who will come to Him to be saved from the wrath to come.

Even so, we can be assured there is no negligence, or being remis on the part of the Lord in His timing and intervention in the affairs of this world. Peter assures us further that “the Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up” (II Peter 3:10).

Knowing the awesome and fearful destruction that will occur, Peter gives us wise counsel as we “see that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought we to be in all holy conversation and godliness” (II Peter 3:11). Adding also, this word, “Wherefore, beloved, seeing you look for such things, be diligent that you may be found of Him in peace, without spot and blameless” (II Peter 3:14).

Indeed, the Lord knows all things; He knows the end of all things from the very beginning of all things. He is all-wise, all-knowing, showing a steadfast love, patience, and is full of mercy. Let us wait patiently upon Him in every situation, circumstance, trial, temptation, and in our times of trouble. We can believe to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (cf. Psalm 27:13).

Scoffers Shall Come. The Apostle Peter tells us in his Epistle “that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts; saying, ‘Where is the promise of His coming? Since the fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation'” (II Peter 3:3-4).

The willful ignorance of men through unbelief of the truth, the rebellion in the hearts of evil doers, the blindness from the working of Satan in the lives of the ungodly, all work together to keep souls in darkness and far from the knowledge of the promises of God. It is the light of the Gospel, the Truth of God revealed in the Scriptures, the working of God by the Holy Spirit that will rescue souls and prepare them for the Day of the Lord.

As the Apostle wrote to the Corinthians: “Who shall also confirm you unto the end that you may be blameless in the Day of the Lord Jesus Christ” (I Corinthians 1:8).

Beloved, let us continue in well doing, let us continue in faith and obedience to the will of the Lord. Let us be faithful to our calling and persevere in faith unto the coming of the Lord. Let us look up continually for our Redemption draws near. Maranatha. Even so, come Lord Jesus.

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