Opportunity

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

We don’t understand God’s nature very well. Often we see him as a frowning taskmaster just waiting for me to make a mistake so he can smush us good. We can almost hear his glee in the slap, like an old great-aunt wielding a ruler and a set of rules.

Yesterday we helped bury a friend. He was a relatively young man who died unexpectedly. Two years ago, his funeral would have been without hope for he was not walking with God then. But he had found Jesus and it changed his life.

The family had requested stories. At first the tales ranged from candy on a desk to business acumen. But then the focus began to tighten: a college buddy was relieved to hear our friend had found the Lord. A friend at the gym had prayed for his salvation. His supervisor was a believer who had talked about spiritual awakenings in the mountains.

Believers had surrounded our friend. God knew his time was short and gave him possibility.

That’s God’s patience and grace. He isn’t standing sternly by, waiting to thump us for every mistake. Instead, he is surrounding us with opportunity.

We fear he holds a rod but when we look closely, he’s really holding a gift.

For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 6:23)