"Wouldn't It Be Better if the Lord Didn't Come?" (2 Peter 3:9-13)

A friend of mine has a penchant to pronounce wry observations about life. With the appearance of another full moon, he emailed me that it would be an excellent opportunity for viewing from our home. I took the opportunity to mention it was another blood moon, When he asked me, “What’s a blood moon?” I quoted the Bible verse in Joel which is repeated in Revelation:

The sun shall be turned to darkness, and the moon to blood, before the great and awesome day of the Lord comes.
Joel 2:31 (ESV)

When he opened the sixth seal, I looked, and behold, there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as sackcloth, the full moon became like blood,
Revelation 6:12 (ESV)

He immediately replied, “Wouldn’t it be better if the Lord didn’t come?”

Taken aback by his comment, I inquired, “Why?”

He replied, “Seems that the sun's turning to darkness and the moon's turning to blood was timed to the coming of the Lord.”

He was right. I used the opportunity to let him know that someday, the Lord will return. But his question left me with a nagging and troublesome thought, “Wouldn’t it be better if the Lord didn’t come?”

As a Christian believer, my life revolves around the promise of Jesus’ return to establish His kingdom on this earth. The earth will be restored to the original promises of God. But I also am keenly aware that when that day comes, judgment will also come.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
2 Peter 3:9-13 (ESV)

God is love. And God is holy. He is patient and does not want anyone to perish. But at some point in the future, known only to Him, He will return to judge this earth. And when He does, there will be no second chances, no last second decisions. Anyone who has not acknowledged Him as Lord and Savior will be eternally separated from Him. There will be no heaven, only hell and torment.

And this is what saddens me. I think of family members, friends, acquaintances-all who have not accepted Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. I desperately want them to have God’s gift of salvation. But it is up to them to accept His invitation.

“Wouldn’t it be better if the Lord didn’t come?”

It may be, if only to allow additional time for all people to come to know Him. But God is in control of time, events and history. Our job is to preach the Gospel, telling everyone who will listen about the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.