3:8 But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one
day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day.
3:9 The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of
slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but
all to come to repentance.
3:10 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the
heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be
dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it
will be disclosed.
3:11 Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what
sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and
godliness,
3:12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because
of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the
elements will melt with fire?
3:13 But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens
and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
3:14 Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things,
strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish;
3:15a and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation. So also our
beloved brother Paul wrote to you according to the wisdom given him.
"A thousand ages in thy sight, are like an evening gone, from
everlasting, thou art God, to endless years the same."
These words from the hymn "O God our help in Ages Past" must have
been inspired to some degree by this text. So much of our lives is
governed by chronos. We measure, even value in terms of ages, years,
days, hours and minutes.
In the 1930's the Great Depression was measured in terms of dollars,
or lack of. Today's great depression is measured in terms of time or
lack thereof. All the technological advances to make life easier and
save time have not cured this spiritual malady. There is not enough
time for relationships, not enough time to volunteer, not enough
time to rest or to practice the Sabbath.
Time has become our God, a cruel taskmaster, whose demands are ever
increasing and whose rewards are ever shrinking.
But breaking into this time ward is one to whom a thousand years is
like a day. He has enough time to go around, enough to support us
all. His time is a kairos time, quality time, that builds up
everything that we need, everything that chronos could not afford.
The gift of kairos is a precious gift. It is not free, however. The
cost of kairos is waiting.
Fred in LA
I tentatively titled my sermon for the Second Sunday in Advent
"Patience," with the idea being to think about our patience- but the
more I read the more I realize that I am going to be looking more at
God's patience. God's patience is deeply rooted in God's love. I
wish I could be as patient with my children as God is with us, but
my patience wears thin at times. Advent is a reminder of God's
patient love. God's love is active as well as patient- constantly
seeking ways to reach us with love and hope. GFinSC
I am working with the idea of "The BIG, BIG Picture," using the idea
that God's plan takes longer to work itself out than we want it to.
In the meantime, our "waiting response" should be to live at peace,
to live spotless lives, and to live in patience. -Dale in
Chattanooga
I am preaching a sermon series in Advent/Christmas/Epiphany entitled
"The Advent of the New Millennium." Last Sunday was "Y1K" where I
talked about the 999 version of millennium change. This week my
theme is "What do we fear?" I have invited via e-mail for
parishioners to share with me their fears and hopes(the third Sunday
in Advent) theme. I have chosen this text because of the millennium
imagery. I think there is more fruit there as well and must study it
more thoroughly. I appreciate your thoughts.
Caroline in CT/USA
Fred in LA - Wow! Incredible insight. I also am so moved by this
passage. So often when we pray, we think "What is taking God so
long?", but according to this passage, God is taking so long because
God is practicing patience with US (vs. 9)!! And God's patience is
to be considered by us as salvation (vs.15). Amazing. I think this
is grace - so clearly. It is as if God is the parent who stands back
to see if we can work things out for ourselves. Yet if ever there is
a danger, the parent steps in immediately. So, we are to spend our
time - in the mean time - living lives of holiness and godliness.
And -this is interesting- "waiting for and HASTENING the coming of
the day of God" Does that hastening mean we may have a little say in
when that day is coming or does it mean that how we act will make
the time seem shorter? Hmmm. Also, the latter part of verse 12
brings to mind the purifying elements of fire. Though I do not know
enough about that kind of thing to know if it is in making steel or
forging or what. Guess I'll ask my husband - he wants to be a
blacksmith when he grows up. This is an incredible passage though. I
almost can't wait to preach it!!! Thanks again, Fred, I hope you
don't mind if I use some of your stuff in my sermon. Rev. Jennifer
in Mississippi
Fred's post reminded me that someone predicted (years ago) that in
the future we would have an abundance of free time due to machinery
and automation and computers. The prediction went something like
because machines will do all the menial work, we will have time for
luxury. Does anyone remember the quote and who said it?
It sort of reminds me of Disney's "Carosel of Progress", but I think
they based it on the quote.
<>< Kingdom DJ
To Rev. Jennifer in Mississippi: About "hastening" the day of the
Lord - this is how I understand it. If God is being patient in
allowing people time to repent and turn to the Gospel, and thus
delaying the end of the world, what if we are active in spreading
the Gospel? The more people hear the gospel, the more people repent,
the more people turn to God, the less need for the patience and
delay. Thus by sharing God's love and Good News, we are hastening
the 2nd coming. Just a thought - Mike in Maryland
A note on patience, ours & God's: Two weeks ago, on a single
afternoon, I spent time with two friends, both of them waiting
impatiently. One was waiting for twin sons to be born. She was so
eager for it that she and her husband had even named them! The other
was waiting for life's other end. Having chosen to receive no more
treatment for a fatal illness, she was waiting for death. She was at
least as impatient as the woman waiting for childbirth. Each
reminded me of the familiar prayer: "Lord, give me patience. NOW."
Each, by now, has what she was waiting for; but each had to wait for
God's good time for "all to be accomplished." Waiting for birth,
waiting for death --if not for these, we're always waiting for
something. In the season of waiting, we need to be aware of God's
patience (which always seems like God's slowness to us). A line from
the poet R. S. Thomas: "The meaning is in the waiting." JB in CA
