Dodger: Whoo-hoo!!!
Lilly: I haven't seen you this excited in weeks. What's up?
Dodger: Well, I've made plans to go camping right after school lets out.
Lilly: Neat! Where at?
Dodger: Yellowstone National Park. I can't wait to go! It's going to be awesome, living life on the rugged edge.
Lilly: Rugged edge...heading there with your folks, then?
Dodger: Yes indeed. My dad put it all together. Only thing is that he won't say exactly when we're going. Wants it to be a surprise or something, I guess.
Lilly: Well, that's kind of cool.
Dodger: Frankly, I find it kind of irritating. Why not just tell us when we're going? That sure sounds a lot easier, at least logistically.
Lilly: Yeah, but the last time your dad surprised you with the departure time for a trip it was because he went and arranged it just when your favorite band was performing. He's got a real knack for excellent timing.
Dodger: That's true. I can't disagree with that.
Lilly: Say...that reminds me of something I read today in 2 Peter.
Dodger: Hm? You mean Peter talks about camping?
Lilly: No, he talks about timing. It's right near the end of his second letter. Check it out:
"Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may 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.” For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (3:1-9, NKJV)
Dodger: That's a lot to take in.
Lilly: Well, basically what Peter is saying is that people will question God and doubt that Jesus is coming back because earth seems to just keep on spinning. In other words, it's been so long in human years that some people just don't believe or even laugh at the concept that Jesus is coming back. Peter reminds us, though, that God doesn't always just immediately do things. In fact He always has a reason for His timing. In our case, God keeps the world spinning because He really wants people to come to Him and be saved. That's not the only example, of course, but it is an important one.
Dodger: So...God wants people to be saved so much that He'll wait for them?
Lilly: God waits for us a great deal, actually. So it follows that we should be willing to wait for Him. You see, God plans everything for our best. Sometimes He waits a long time for us to come around and actually let Him work in us. Other times He just kind of drops the evidence of His work right in our laps. That being said, He always works on His timing, so it's not like we can hold up God. The important thing is to remember that He always knows what He's doing, and has the big picture set up for our benefit. We can't always see it, and we may have to wait for it, but God is always at work. He'll keep His promises, even if it seems to take a while.
Dodger: I guess that that's a bit like what my dad does. He plans things a certain way without telling me everything so I'll be even more pleasantly surprised and blessed.
Lilly: Yep.
Dodger: Well, if I can wait for God, I can definitely wait for my dad. They both know what they're doing, after all.
Lilly: You got that right. Just look at the times God uses timing in the Bible. A few examples include Abraham, Sarah, and their son Isaac, the Exodus of Egypt, and even the birth of Baby Jesus! It may not always be obvious why God chose the timing He did, but it always worked out for the best.
Dodger: Well, sweet! Thanks Lilly! I'll remember to wait on God in the future, even if it feels like I'm waiting a long time. Who knows? He might even help me grow closer to Him with His timing.
Lilly: Amen to that. Well, I think we'd better call it.
Dodger: Yeah. Thank you for hanging out with us today! It's awesome to have you around. Remember, Jesus loves you, and that's not about to change!
Lilly: Ciao!
(NKJV Means New King James Version)
Lilly: I haven't seen you this excited in weeks. What's up?
Dodger: Well, I've made plans to go camping right after school lets out.
Lilly: Neat! Where at?
Dodger: Yellowstone National Park. I can't wait to go! It's going to be awesome, living life on the rugged edge.
Lilly: Rugged edge...heading there with your folks, then?
Dodger: Yes indeed. My dad put it all together. Only thing is that he won't say exactly when we're going. Wants it to be a surprise or something, I guess.
Lilly: Well, that's kind of cool.
Dodger: Frankly, I find it kind of irritating. Why not just tell us when we're going? That sure sounds a lot easier, at least logistically.
Lilly: Yeah, but the last time your dad surprised you with the departure time for a trip it was because he went and arranged it just when your favorite band was performing. He's got a real knack for excellent timing.
Dodger: That's true. I can't disagree with that.
Lilly: Say...that reminds me of something I read today in 2 Peter.
Dodger: Hm? You mean Peter talks about camping?
Lilly: No, he talks about timing. It's right near the end of his second letter. Check it out:
"Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may 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.” For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. (3:1-9, NKJV)
Dodger: That's a lot to take in.
Lilly: Well, basically what Peter is saying is that people will question God and doubt that Jesus is coming back because earth seems to just keep on spinning. In other words, it's been so long in human years that some people just don't believe or even laugh at the concept that Jesus is coming back. Peter reminds us, though, that God doesn't always just immediately do things. In fact He always has a reason for His timing. In our case, God keeps the world spinning because He really wants people to come to Him and be saved. That's not the only example, of course, but it is an important one.
Dodger: So...God wants people to be saved so much that He'll wait for them?
Lilly: God waits for us a great deal, actually. So it follows that we should be willing to wait for Him. You see, God plans everything for our best. Sometimes He waits a long time for us to come around and actually let Him work in us. Other times He just kind of drops the evidence of His work right in our laps. That being said, He always works on His timing, so it's not like we can hold up God. The important thing is to remember that He always knows what He's doing, and has the big picture set up for our benefit. We can't always see it, and we may have to wait for it, but God is always at work. He'll keep His promises, even if it seems to take a while.
Dodger: I guess that that's a bit like what my dad does. He plans things a certain way without telling me everything so I'll be even more pleasantly surprised and blessed.
Lilly: Yep.
Dodger: Well, if I can wait for God, I can definitely wait for my dad. They both know what they're doing, after all.
Lilly: You got that right. Just look at the times God uses timing in the Bible. A few examples include Abraham, Sarah, and their son Isaac, the Exodus of Egypt, and even the birth of Baby Jesus! It may not always be obvious why God chose the timing He did, but it always worked out for the best.
Dodger: Well, sweet! Thanks Lilly! I'll remember to wait on God in the future, even if it feels like I'm waiting a long time. Who knows? He might even help me grow closer to Him with His timing.
Lilly: Amen to that. Well, I think we'd better call it.
Dodger: Yeah. Thank you for hanging out with us today! It's awesome to have you around. Remember, Jesus loves you, and that's not about to change!
Lilly: Ciao!
(NKJV Means New King James Version)
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