Sometimes I get depressed by the state of the world. My heart breaks for those who are starving, abused, unloved, persecuted, grieving, dying or frightened. I try to imagine what God sees when He looks upon this world, and am quickly overwhelmed as I see image after image flash by of death, pain and despair. In my heart I cry out to God, why don't you put an end to this? Why do you keep us waiting for your return? How can you sit there and watch your precious children suffer so greatly? The problem of evil and suffering is not an easy one to wrap our heads around, and I don't for one minute want to suggest that this is a simple, neat explanation, but this passage from Peter comforts me. God loves us so much that He is waiting, hoping, aching for His children to come back to Him. Because He knows that once He comes again, there will be no more chances, everything that was will be swept away and only those who have been saved by the blood of Jesus will be taken into the new creation God has in store for us. God so desperately wants us all there, so desperately wants to make sure that no one misses out, that He delays so that we might repent and turn back to Him before it is too late. He is the loving parent who continues year after to leave the back door unlocked in case His son or daughter returns home. He is the loving teacher who doesn't give up on a difficult student, but continues to persevere and fight for them and their education. He is groom the that waits for his bride, knowing that if he loves her enough, is patient enough, and gentle enough, then she will let go of her fears and agree to marry him. And so God waits, and hopes, and celebrates with all of heaven every time someone opens their hearts to him, and accepts Jesus into their lives forever.
No comments:
Post a Comment