Do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day (2 Peter 3:8, ESV).
When you consider time in the Bible – seemingly slow and then sudden change.
Consider creation…
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1, ESV).
Nothing at all – then time, matter, and energy existed. One day is like a thousand years to God!
For hundreds of years, modern science assumed a “steady state” eternal universe. Then science discovered the truth, that the universe began with a “big bang”!
Consider the creation of man and woman…
Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us (Genesis 1:26, NLT).
Those who believe in the slow evolution of life are befuddled that homo sapiens (I qualify as one of these and I hope that you do too)…
Suddenly existed, in the image of God.
One scholar writes, “We humans burst onto the stage of history bundled with a cluster of behaviors never before seen on Earth.”
Another scientist writes, “These unique behaviors included art, religious beliefs, complex technologies, the ability to communicate, and long-range planning abilities.”
Not billions and billions of years of “yawn” evolution, but in the twinkling of an eye.
Consider the first coming of Jesus.
Thousands of years of Biblical history, the nation of Israel waiting for their Messiah, and then as shepherds were relaxing at night…
An angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people” (Luke 2:9-10, NASB1995).
Living our lives, we might consider, where is God? As Peter writes…
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness (2 Peter 3:9, ESV).
In our darkest moment, a bright light of peace and inspiration appears. Fear becomes peace, sickness is healed, and depression is delivered.
Again, time from God’s perspective…
What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later. For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are (Romans 8:18-19, NLT).
The Bible teaches that scoffers will come in the last days.
It is easy to get caught up in “human” time and question God’s purposes. We wonder and debate the existence of God by all the evil in the world today.
They will say, “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again (2 Peter 3:4, NLT)?
Now, at the end of this Interruption, let’s consider the end…
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 (2 Peter 3:10).
Remember, one day is like a thousand years!