Commentary on "Hope"

MARTIN CAREY

 

Day 6: Thursday, April 16, 2009

This lesson looks at how believers are to hope and wait for that day, remembering Christ’s words, “the time is near” (Rev. 22:10). Two thousand years have passed since Christ promised to come back, and we still wait, as he told us to do. The lesson asks how we are to understand the time aspect in II Peter 3:8,9, when Jesus told us he is coming soon:

“…with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 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.”

The lesson makes the point that although the events of Christ’s coming are important to know, it is more important “that we are sure of the One we expect.”

 

Problems

The lesson misses the opportunity to be confident on how Christians can understand God’s appointed times, and how we can be “sure of the One we expect.”

It is helpful to understand Peter’s statement that with the Lord long and short periods of time are the same, so from his perspective, all things are “soon.” We also know from Peter that God wishes to save as many as possible, because of his great mercy and patience.

What is missing in this lesson is God’s sovereignty over history. Habakkuk’s conversation with God about the timing of his justice is timely for us. He asks God, “How long?” In Habakkuk 2, God answers him with these assurances:

“The vision awaits its appointed time…” God has set the day and hour, he is in control of the timing, he is Lord of history. Paul told the Athenians, “He has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness” (Acts 17:31).

“It hastens to the end—it will not lie.” There is no delay, God is not waiting for anything or anyone. History is progressing as planned, the time will be right.

“If it seems slow, wait for it.” Patience! For, “It will surely come; it will not delay” (Hab. 2:3). Do not try to set dates yourself, it only shows your lack of faith.

God then gives the answer to the question, how can we be sure we will stand on that day? There will two kinds of people. The one who’s “soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him,” and “the righteous” who “shall live by his faith” (Hab. 2:4). Justification by faith alone is our surety now, and at the judgment when we appear before the one who is “of purer eyes to see evil and cannot look at wrong…” (Hab. 1:13). The justified man’s faith is a gift of the Spirit, also working the fruits of the Spirit. But his righteousness on judgment day is alien, in Christ, by faith.

The prophet later reminds God, “In wrath remember mercy” (Hab. 3:2). God is just and merciful, we can be confident of both, the Cross is proof. We can only stand before God empty handed and contrite. Paul asks, “What have you that you did not receive?” Indeed, what else will we offer the One who cannot see evil? Only what we receive from His mercy.

 

Summary

We wait for Jesus to come with patience and trust, knowing that he is Lord of history. He is not waiting for us, we are to wait on him with trust. We live by faith alone, knowing that he will act at the appointed time that he has determined. “It will surely come; it will not delay.”

This is my Father's world.

O let me ne'er forget

that though the wrong seems oft so strong,

God is the ruler yet.

 

 

Copyright 2008 BibleStudiesForAdventists.com. All rights reserved. Revised April 16, 2009. This website is published by Life Assurance Ministries, Glendale, Arizona, USA, the publisher of Proclamation! Magazine. Contact email: BibleStudiesForAdventists@gmail.com.

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