The life of a believer in the Old Testament up until the times we live in now is much about waiting. Waiting on the Lord is a common thread in scripture, and that reality is perhaps more real now than it ever was.
There may be a misconception in the minds of some that those who wait on the Lord have little to do with the outcome of the Lord’s plans and the Lord’s timing. Moreover, waiting in general can sound like a very stagnant thing to do, or is associated with an unproductive period of time.
But waiting in the Christian sense is not a passive or idle thing. It is not about killing or passing time. Waiting on the Lord, which especially applies to us, is full of end time significance and, as the scripture implies, even has an impact on the Lord’s timetable. Waiting on the Lord is full of anticipation, purposeful activity, and connected directly to the future. Since no calling is higher, we should consider the present possibilities to know we are being productive.
Biblical Direction
To be active in waiting we need direction. Without direction we will turn our wait into a passive wait, which leads to boredom and eventual disinterest, or at least a disinterest in the things that matter
I believe, in the past, the direction given for readiness was an inordinate amount of attention that Christ’s return was imminent, resulting in chronic speculations on world events, even pointing to dates. “Watching” was a key word derived from a misinterpretation of Matthew 24:42, suggesting that Christ commanded that we should watch world events so that believers would be prepared.
This was successful to a degree it appears but as time goes on our natural tendencies to become fickle or impatient will eventually win. Waiting uses up time and those who do not properly wait as the scriptures instruct may lose the battle on time.
We will discuss in this article the scriptural understanding of waiting on the Lord that produces results, and results that are sustainable.
To Stir You Up!
The apostle Peter seemed to recognize the tendency of a believer to settle into a lower energy state that is not conducive to progress. In his second epistle he twice states he wishes to “stir you up.” In doing so he shows us how to wait on the Lord in a way that is sustainable. The second reference to stirring up his readers relates to the future:
Beloved I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by the way of reminder), that you may be be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation” (2 Peter 3:1-4).
What is strongly implied here is that the scoffers are believers, or becoming unbelievers. It was said to me recently that “everyone is in a state of conversion and un-conversion”, a sobering statement that takes some thinking about. Peter gives us the direction we need so that we do not stumble and head down the path of un- conversion.
What these scoffers don’t understand is how their view of time is not the same as God’s view of time. We all have a narrow sliver in our own existence in the flesh and our view of time is limited. The mistake that is occurring here is extrapolating time as we know it now, all the way into the past and all the way into the future. Our consciousness of history is extremely limited, and the scoffer will argue from this limited standpoint of time.
Peter recognized the need to deal with the matter of time, which is God’s view versus man’s view, and then dealt with the value of the physical:
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 a fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up (2 Peter 3:10).
The value on the physical is that it is not worth much. “All flesh is grass” (1 Peter 1:24). We can see the value the Lord puts on the physical. We also see the contrast in the Lord’s view on what is of value, and man’s view of time versus the Lord’s view on time.
What follows then, after Peter has brought into perspective the Lord’s view of time and what value the Lord puts on the physical, is Peter’s encouragement of what truly connects us with the Day of the Lord from where we are now.
How to Wait
Therefore, ….
since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (2 Peter 3:11-13).
In the original Greek, the words translated here to holiness and godliness are both plural. It should be emphasized that these are not static states of being, but active states of being. They are productive, they are about varied activity. They have splendor (attract attention), they produce results.
Looking for and hastening are not passive words. These are activities that require our attention.
Jude wrote about “looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life …” (Jude 21). This is much like asking “Who can I forgive, how can I expand my capacity to forgive?” A way of thinking that empties out into eternity.
Looking for the Lord in the Gospel sense is an advancing sense of self in the light of the Lord’s character, which is holiness and godliness. Holiness (being set apart) is expressed in a number of ways by Peter. It means to get about our own sanctification (1 Peter 1:14-19), realizing your expression of love for the brethren (1 Peter 1:22), behaving lawfully under man’s jurisdiction (1 Peter 2:13,14), willing to embrace suffering (1 Peter 4:1-6). Godliness is imparted to us as we nurture the work of His Holy Spirit. Peter mentions godliness in association with power (2 Peter 1:3).
What is striking in this scripture, is that it suggests our holiness and godliness hastens the Day. It is very curious that Peter would suggest somehow we may be involved in speeding up the coming of the Lord. He is not repeating himself as this is not another way of saying “looking for.” This may not seem possible, but consider the following:
The believer is part of the advancing Kingdom of God. The work that His servants are involved in is in co-operation with the work that the Father and the Son are actively engaged in (John 5:17). The ministry of man cooperates with God’s program so that promised events take place.
Perhaps now we can put looking for and hastening the Day of the Lord together and understand how our present activity sustains our hold on the future. It is far superior than strategies offered up to watch world events and speculate to assign events as the “sign of the times.” Those who are looking for and hastening the Day of the Lord look at their own conduct and transformation for assurance and connection for the future. The Day of the Lord is more than an event in time, it is salvation.
Are you co-operating with God’s program? Co-operating with His program takes diligence,
But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, to brotherly kindness, love (2 Peter 1:5-7).
Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble (2 Peter 1:10).
The suggestion is that diligent effort takes time and energy to grow the fruits of righteousness. Unfortunately, some have instead turned their energies in becoming auditors of the program, focused on the correcting efforts of some on the smallest things, analyzing the politics of the Church at large and other fruitless acts. We all need to take stock of our own activities and motivations in light of Peter’s words.
Longsuffering is Opportunity
And consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation (2 Peter 3:15).
It is as though Peter returns to the aspect of time, but what does this mean?
This is all about opportunity. The longsuffering of our Lord is the goodness of God which leads to salvation. The longsuffering of our Lord is about opportunity. If we are impatient with longsuffering of the Lord, wishing the time was shorter, constantly looking for signs, we are not with His program of active waiting, but selfishly (perhaps dramatically) approaching the faith.
In light of this, we should understand that God’s will is also creative. God makes adjustments where He sees fit, steps in where He decides to. Where there is lethargy or bad chemistry, God may make changes, and those changes may not be comfortable for some, and even resented. However, if we are obedient, we will recognize His activity and we will adjust with Him. Active minds in the Truth never get bored, nor are persuaded to doubt.
Who will be ready?
Jesus tells us plainly those who will be ready and found faithful at His coming He will “find so doing” (Matthew 24:46). What does “doing” mean? I think it means actively waiting as we have discussed already.
Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless (2 Peter 3:14).
Here again is the proper direction we need to be motivated. Endless analyses of events and prophetic speculations, the claims that you have to be with the right group to be acceptable, among other types of misdirection, do not stand up to scripture.
My concluding thoughts are the powerful words of the apostle John.
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17).
Love casts out fear and he who loves has no fear in judgment. These words of John can be understood by asking the simple question that John answers, “How does love judge love?” God is love, and He perfectly accepts those who are like Him; there is no need to be concerned with judgment.
If you as a reader are struggling to find certainty in your faith, navigating through all the claims and agendas of men and their institutional ideas of church and doctrine, then turn to the Lord who is the Author and Finisher of your faith, who can work with you in cultivating love, and He will show you His freedom to embrace. You will be free of fear and free to serve, which is your true opportunity to actively wait.
