A NEWSLETTER FOR THE MEMBERS OF THE GREENWOOD CHURCH OF CHRIST

VOLUME 3 NO. 23                                            July 30, 2006

“THE PROMISE OF GOD”

BY STEVE NIEMEIER

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

How comforting it is to know that God our Heavenly Father wants us to repent and obey His will.  In fact He wants this so much that He has delayed the 2^nd coming of His Son in a loving show of longsuffering so that we would repent and turn to Him.

What is sad is that so many decide not to repent from their selfish ways and follow after Him.  Peter states in verses 10 and 11 of II Peter 3: “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; Both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.  Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness...?”  It is very evident that Peter knows that even though the Lord is longsuffering and wants all of us to repent and follow after Him, there will be a time when His patience is over and He will send His Son back to bring His Kingdom home to heaven.

Am I prepared for that day?  That is the question we all must answer.  The promise of God is clear that He wants us to repent and follow after His will.  He has been patient so far.  Am I testing His patience?  Am I “gambling” with my soul?  The Lord is not slack in His promise of salvation to those that overcome and follow after Him.  He is also not slack in His promise of destruction to those who don't!