I. INTRODUCTION

A. From time to time, Christians can become discouraged because of the profundity of evil in the world.

1. The problems of our world are many. Faith, family, marriage, and Christians values are under attack. At the same time, godlessness, corruption, and unbelief are on the rise. We see this manifested through sexual promiscuity, homosexuality, abortion, violence, covetousness, etc.

2. This progressive nature of sin is acknowledged in Romans 1:20-32 and 2Timothy 3:13, which says, "But evil men and impostors will proceed from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived."

B. At times, it may even cause us to ask, "How long will God permit this to go on? Why is He waiting to bring judgment on this world?"

1. We sometimes identify with "the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God," who asked in Revelation 6:10, "How long, O Lord, holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?"

2. The Scriptures tell us "as to the times and the epochs" that "the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night" (1Thess. 5:1-2). The exact time of the judgment is not for us to know (Matt. 24:36), but our hearts yearn for a time when justice and righteousness will prevail.

C. Do not be discouraged, but instead be faithful. The Bible has answers for our questions and teaches us that the Lord's delay is actually a good thing. Let us consider these answers and embrace the faithful view of the evil around us.

II. GOD IS WAITING BECAUSE OF HIS RIGHTEOUS JUDGMENT -- 2 THESSALONIANS 1:5-10

A. The suffering of Christians is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment.

1. Consider verse 5 -- "This is a plain indication of God's righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which indeed you are suffering."

2. The word "this" in verse 5 refers to the love, faith, and perseverance of Christians who endure the persecutions and the afflictions of the world (see vv. 3-4).

3. Notice three points here:

a. Our sufferings in this nation are minimal. Granted, if we have the sensitivity to sin that we should have, then we will be like Lot in Sodom, of whom the Scripture says, "For by what he saw and heard that righteous man, while living among them, felt his righteous soul tormented day after day by their lawless deeds" (2Pet. 2:8). However, "you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin" (Heb. 12:4).

b. That said, God's righteous judgment deems that Christians who persevere in faith through persecutions, afflictions, and suffering are worthy of the kingdom of God.

c. On the surface, this situation may not seem like a plain indication of God's righteous judgment. The profundity of evil and the oppression of righteousness appear to be unjust. However, the appearance of this present situation is not the end of the story.

B. The present injustice in the world demands that a great, final, and just judgment must be executed by God.

1. Consider verses 6-8 -- "For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus."

2. Let us be clear about this message. The injustice that exists now will certainly be corrected when Christ comes. The fact that evil men are succeeding in the present is a "plain indication" that God's righteous judgment will punish them in the future. Notice Galatians 6:7-8:

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

C. While we wait for the Lord, the present injustice in the world gives Christians the opportunity to secure the reward of heaven.

1. In Matthew 5:10-12, Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

2. In this way, a Christian may show himself to be "worthy of the kingdom of God."

III. GOD IS WAITING FOR THE SAKE OF THE LOST -- 2 PETER 3:1-15

A. This passage is written as a warning against the influence of mockers who raise doubt about the return of the Lord (see vv. 1-7).

1. The ascension of Christ had occurred at most thirty-four years before Peter wrote his epistle, and the mockers were already saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation" (v. 4). Therefore, it is no surprise that after nearly two-thousand years mockers are still asking the same questions.

2. The answer for these mockers is that all does not continue just as it was from the beginning of creation (consider the global flood) and that "the present heavens and earth by His word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men" (v. 7).

3. This answer means that just as God brought judgment on the world before, He will bring judgment on the world again. The mockers willfully overlook the evidence.

B. If this raises any questions among Christians about the coming of the Lord, then those questions are answered by an understanding of God's gracious patience for the lost.

1. Having answered the mockers, Peter addresses Christians directly and adamantly in verses 8-10:

But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.

2. Notice a few points about this answer.

a. Time is irrelevant to God. He exists eternally and is not subject to time as we are.

b. While we may become impatient with the passing of time, God waits patiently for sinners to repent. He is not being slow, but rather He is being patient and extending the opportunity for all sinners to come to repentance in Christ and be saved.

c. The day of the Lord is a certainly, but its timing is unknown. It shall come suddenly and surprisingly for those who are unprepared.

3. These answers lead us to a few conclusions in verses 11-15.

a. We ought to keep our behavior holy in eager anticipation of the coming of the Lord and His judgment. Every day should be viewed as the possible day of His return.

b. This world will surely pass away, and new heavens and a new earth will be our eternal dwelling place. Therefore, we should not live as if we will be in this world forever.

c. While we wait for these things, we should "regard the patience of our Lord to be salvation" (v. 15). Rather than becoming impatient with God, instead we should praise and thank Him for allowing more souls the opportunity for salvation.

IV. CONCLUSION

A. Now let us make the practical application of these answers.

1. The progression of evil and injustice in this world is not reason to doubt God. Quite the opposite, it is reason to believe in Him and have confidence in His righteous judgment. God's justice will be done.

2. The delay of our Lord is good for sinners, for they have an additional opportunity to be saved. It is Christians' responsibility to participate in that opportunity by taking the gospel message to the lost.

3. The coming of the Lord is a certainty. Therefore, it is time to get ready for that day.

B. In conclusion, consider the words of Ecclesiastes 3:11 -- "He has made everything appropriate in its time. He has also set eternity in their heart, yet so that man will not find out the work which God has done from the beginning even to the end." We cannot know exactly when the Lord will come, but we can know why He waits. Let us be assured that when He comes it will be appropriate or "beautiful" (KJV) in its time.