What is God Waiting For?

 

What is God Waiting For?

We have been waiting for Our Heavenly Father to send His Son for 2000 years

We get very anxious as we see evil and hard times darken our world

We are waiting for our Savior, Deliverer, King, and Hope

But maybe the best question we can ask as we wait is

What is God waiting for?

 

 

 What is God Waiting For

 

One of the big questions I have is…

 

What is God waiting for?

 

2 Peter 3:3-9 tells us there are those

who poke fun at the promise of Christ’s return…

 

3 First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 6 By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. 7 By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men.

8 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. 9 The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

 

Scoffers, might have more creditability today

now that we have waited 2000 plus more years

 for the coming of Christ.

 

So, what keeps you from doubting the Lord’s return?

 

I grew up with the expectation of Christ’s return every day.

 

I remember a snowy blizzardy day,

when a roaring loud sound with a bright blinding light,

lite up the snow and filled the sky.

 

I thought for sure I was going up in that moment

than it was over and I was still here.

 

I yelled to the back of our mobile home to Sandy

where she was cleaning

and it took a moment for her to answer.

 

 I was so concerned she was gone and I was left.

 

You don’t know the relief when I heard Sandy’s voice

and I realized a power transformer had exploded.

   

I remember praying…

 

 God, please hold off coming until after I married Sandy.

 

Wow, that has been over 50 years ago.

 

I realize there have been many prayers

where I wanted to see loved ones saved

or the message of Christ displayed

in power before Christ returned.

 

Some of my reasons for wanting the Lord to delay His coming

have been selfish and others were to reveal more of His glory

in earth as it is in heaven.

 

I think if we are honest…

 

We all have reasons we want Jesus to come today

and some reasons we want Him to wait.

  

The Father must have a good and perfect reason

for holding off the return of His Son.

 

We read Matthew 24 and see

that before the coming of Christ

terrible things will take place.

 

I was born just after World War II and Holocaust.

I remember the fear of Communism,

Nuclear War and air raid drills.

 

I lived through the 60’s where hallucinogenic drugs,

free love, orgies, cult worship and more,

permeated America and other cultures.

 

In the last 2 years, we have seen unending

sickness and death from Covid 19…

 

 Which started in America in early 2020

 

 The riots in our cities over the murder

of George Floyd in May of 2020,

 

In 2021 and 2022 shortages and alarming inflation

and war with Russia and Ukraine, 

not to mention political unrest, 

high fuel and food prices at a time when 

savings and 401k are suffering huge losses.

 

If our Heavenly Father is waiting for evil times,

hard times, to send His Son there has been plenty

of opportunity and the time is right, even now.

 

There are many preachers who believe

all the signs of His coming have been fulfilled.

 

So what is God waiting for?

 

I have cried out to God in the times of evil.

 

Asking the question of God…

 

 “If heaven is so wonderful, what are you waiting for?”

 

I want to know so I might be a part of His plan.

 

So, what is the Heavenly Father waiting for?

 

This question is answered several times in scriptures.

 

The answers have more to do with us than the world or God.

 

When Peter speaks of the return of the Lord, he says…

 

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. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone 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 in it will be laid bare. 

 

Since everything will be destroyed in this way,

 what kind of people 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. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

2 Peter 3:8-13

 

Is there something God is waiting

to take place in His people?

 

If so, what is He looking for in you and I?

 

Peter says…

 

 What kind of people ought you to be?

You ought to live holy and godly lives

as you look forward to the day of God

 

Paul in Romans 13 addresses the people of God

who are in the last of the end times…

 

And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. Romans 13:11-12a

What does Paul want us to understand about the present time, the final hour?

So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 

Romans 13:12b-14

 

Paul was ringing an alarm.

 

 But not an alarm of fear of evil and bad times…

 

 But an alarm to wake up.

 

A time to put on the armor of light.

 

A time to clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Like Peter, he addresses holiness and godliness by…

 

 Not thinking about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.

 

We should take a good look at what Paul says

in the first part of this chapter.

 

Beyond our personal holiness and godliness

is the bigger picture…

 

Governing authorities.

 

Paul certainly saw the problems with the Roman government.

 

 Remember, they put Jesus to death and persecuted believers.

 

Yet, Paul condones rebellion of governments.

 

 Paul says…

 

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. 

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.

Romans 12:21-13:3

 

Pay your taxes and give honor to the governing authorities.

 

WOW!!!

 

That is a unique approach as we look

at the political world around us.

  

We will look at this a little later in Ephesians 3.

 

For now, we see we should be working with

 (submit himself to the governing authorities)

rather than rebelling.

 

Romans 13:8-10 tells us…

 

 We should do want Jesus did.

 

Everything Jesus did was out of loved

and thus, fulfilled the Law.

 

If we are the Body of Christ should this be our heart

and action to love and thus, fulfill the law.

 

Another answer from Scripture as to

 “what is God waiting for” is found in Ephesians 5…

 

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Ephesians 5:25-28

 

The Father is not going to give His Son

a wife with commitment issues,

a woman who is pushing for Jesus to change for her desires,

a selfish woman, controlling, a party animal,

more about her fun than the goal of the kingdom,

who has trust issues, she is always right…

 

 A woman who cuts Jesus off from meeting

the needs of others because she is insecure.

 

The Father wants to give His Son

the best…

 

 A bride who is holy (set apart),

godly (complements by having the same image),

radiant (glorious, live as children of light,

for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness,

righteousness and truth and find out what pleases the Lord.)

Ephesians 5:8-11

 

Since the beginning, the Father is looking for a Bride for His Son.

 

This picture is more a picture of maturity,

 

There have always been people who are a part of the Bride,

the Bride is making herself ready.

Revelation 19:7

 

God, the Father, is waiting for a little girl to grow up.

 

 She is growing, she is maturing and

the Bride is more beautiful than ever before. 

 

But there must be more she is to do

to reach the marriage altar.

 

Ephesians 3:10-12 tells us the Father is waiting

for the church to have and display

the multifaceted wisdom of God.

 

His intent was that now…

 

 Through the church,

the manifold wisdom of God should be made known

to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,

according to His eternal purpose

which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

What is God’s intent for us?

 

The world is in the darkness of confusion, due to sin.

 

A rejecting of the truth has led to living in lies.

 

This has made it very hard to judge matters

and make corrections.

 

The world is crying out for justice…

 

 But has no idea how to get through the confusion.

 

It is the church, the Bride of Christ,

who is maturing in wisdom that is from above.

 

Godly wisdom that is able to bring answers to

the great issues governments and people groups have.

 

It is more than praying and casting down spiritual darkness…

 

 It is hands on work with governing powers

so they will see the truth that sets the captive free.

 

Timely advice is as lovely as gold apples in a silver basket.

Proverbs 25:11  TLB   

 

The Father is waiting for us to reign now

and to the end of the age.

 

Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him, we will also live with him;

if we endure, we will also reign with him.

If we disown him, he will also disown us;

if we are faithless, he will remain faithful,

for he cannot disown himself.

2 Timothy 2:11-13

 

We don’t have to be presidents

and kings of the world governments.

 

We need to be ambassadors of the Kingdom of God,

working hand in hand with those in world authorities.

 

As Paul said in Romans 13…

 

 Working with and submitting to ruling authorities.

 

Yes it is hard to love and respect…

 

 Those in authority that rule in ungodly ways.

 

This is why we need to mature in our love,

and wisdom and be more like Christ.

 

Anybody can criticize, or be a talker…

 

But only the mature can bring about

true freedom by doing something.

    

What does God want us to do to the end of the age?...

 

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Matthew 28:18-20

 

So keep up the good work.

 

 Keep sharing with others God’s love,

His Wisdom.

 

Live as examples in holiness and godliness

so that your friends, family and acquaintances

will also learn how to be disciples.

 

Stop waiting for God...

 

 He is waiting for you…

 

To be led by the Spirit in practical ways each day.

 

What the Father is waiting for is…

 

 Maturing where we are making a difference

in this world…

 

 God so loved that He gave His Son for it.

 

He is waiting for this woman to mature in this world,

making a difference so that none should perish.

 

Matthew 13:30 says it so well…

 

“Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn”

 

“Never give up on something you really want,

it’s difficult to wait but it’s more difficult to regret.”

 

 

Scripture Reading

 

2 Peter 3:10-18 NIV

 

10 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 in it will be laid bare. 

 

11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 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. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

 

14 So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. 15 Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him. 16 He writes the same way in all his letters, speaking in them of these matters. His letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.

 

17 Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position. 18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.