2 Peter 3:8-13...But do not overlook this one fact...God is patient

 

"...but is patient toward you,..."  The scoffers in verse 5 overlook a fact but in verse 8 the beloved are to not overlook a fact.  The fact is that God is God and we are not.  God is in control.  God's clock is different than our clock.  God has been active and will be active against the wickedness of this world.  Peter uses the common phrase, "...with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day."  This common phrase is not a mathematical equation but rather a phrase to make a point.  

"Boy, he has a chip on his shoulder." - potato chip, computer chip, etc.

"That was a piece of cake." - german chocolate, carrot, etc.

"That will cost you an arm and a leg." - surgeon necessary, wooden leg and hook, etc.

"You are barking up the wrong tree." - coon dog, what kind of tree, etc.

You get the point.  God's clock is different than ours and therefore what we think as slow is not slow to Him.  

But, why the wait?  Because God is patient with you.  I might look at verse 9 differently than others but here is how I answer the question, "Who is you, any and all?"

"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some consider slowness, but is patient toward you, not willing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9, LSB)

Some might look at the all and think of all in its fullest sense but sometime all is limited to the context of the room per say or the audience.  The you can be related back to verse 8 and who Peter is speaking to, the beloved.  

Who are the beloved Peter is speaking to?  The church, the people of God, God's flock, His sheep and specifically the 1st century Christians in Asia Minor but this time of God's patience is still happening so it includes the church, the people of God, God's flock, and His sheep now and in the future.

Who are the any not to perish?  There will be those who will perish and not reach repentance because we are not Unitarians believing all will be saved.  There is a heaven and a hell.  But who will not perish?  The any who are connected to the you who are connected to the beloved.  God is not willing that any of His flock would perish but rather to have eternal life.  

Who are the all to come to repentance?  The all is connected to the any that is connected to you and connected to the beloved.  God is saying all of His church, His flock, will come to repentance.  

Our God is patient with all of His flock of all time and that all and any of His flock will not perish and all and any will reach repentance.  Therefore, may we who are part of the flock of God be diligent proclaiming God's words about a coming judgment and also His promise for those in the flock to be a part of the new heavens and new earth.  

Jesus' words in John 10:27-30 help me here.

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish--ever; and no one will snatch them out of My hand.  My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.  I and the Father are one."  (John 10:27-30, LSB)

God has made a promise (v.9) and He will fulfill His promise (v.13) for those who are in the His flock.  Not one of them or any of them will perish and all will come to repentance and they are to be waiting for a new heavens and new earth provided for them where righteousness dwells.  This is what we are waiting for and also proclaiming to the world around us just as Noah did in his day.  

Noah said, "Get on the ark!  The flood is coming!"  We say, "Get on the better ark, Jesus!  The fire is coming!"

Adam