Keep On Following Jesus

“But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but eve-ryone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of peo-ple ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat” (2 Peter 3:8-12, NIV).

When God granted us the opportunity last 2015 to roam around Singapore, my wife seemed to know the places where we were going, so I just followed her. I made sure that when we were walking along with the crowd and she was ahead of me, I would not lose her in my sight.

There was an instance that when we were in the MRT station and about to transfer to anoth-er ride, we were again with the crowd that was moving fast. And we had to use an escalator. My wife was ahead, for we could not ride the escalator side by side. When you ride an esca-lator there, you have to leave the other side free, for those who prefer to walk or who are in a hurry.

When my wife and were about to ride the escalator going upward, I missed the first step. When I fell face downward, it was good that I was able to use my arms and hands to prevent my face to hit the other steps. I felt I would sit down for a while and “lick my wounds,” so to speak. But, when I looked up, my wife was not aware of had happened to me. So, hurriedly I got up to follow my wife, lest I would be left behind and not find my way in that foreign place.

In our Christian life, no matter what would happen to us, we need also to keep on following the Captain of our salvation.

As the sheep of His pasture, we need to KEEP ON FOLLOWING JESUS and that’s what we are going to focus on as we deal with our text (2 Peter 3:8-12).

So, why should we keep on following Jesus, though we encounter difficulties in our path? When we fall down, what should prod us to rise and continue to follow our Savior?

Again, be reminded that 2 Peter was addressed then to the believers, who were bombarded with false teachings during his time.

He pointed out that they should rely on Scripture, because it was the written Word of God. And those who would distort it, or who would believe and live not in harmony with it would certainly suffer punishment from God.

Also, Peter pointed out that the Lord will rescue the godly from trials and hold the unrighteous for punishment.

And, now, even in the midst of false teachers or false believers, he would like them to become motivated in pursuing their Christian calling.

So, in our time, what should also motivate us to keep on going in spite of various distractions? Why should we keep on following Jesus, though we encounter barriers or burdens, or we are bombarded with doubts in our way?

First, BECAUSE THE LORD IS PATIENT (vv. 8-9).

We read verses 8-9 – “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting any-one to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Peter pointed out that God’s perception of time was so different from human beings. “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.” So, though others could regard it was a delay for Him to accomplish His promise, but in reality it was not. He was actually displaying how patient He was toward them.

For some it may appear, He was behind the schedule, but actually He was just giving the believers time to repent of the sins they committed, to acknowledge them and to repent of them.

And that should motivate them to do it, because God was giving them time. And if ever they are reluctant to move forward, as they are threatened by the great difficulty ahead, they need to proceed nevertheless, for God could also accomplish His deliverance at any moment.