Impatiently Patient: Living in Anticipation of Christ’s Return
The promise of Jesus Christ’s return has been a central hope of the church for over two millennia. Scripture is rich with references to His Second Coming, emphasising its certainty and significance. Yet, as we wait, the delay can feel long, prompting questions and sometimes doubts. How should we live in this “in-between” time?
The Apostle Peter offers wisdom in 2 Peter 3, encouraging us to balance patience with urgency. God’s apparent delay in fulfilling His promise is not slowness but extraordinary patience. As Peter writes, God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). His waiting allows more people to turn to Him, including us and our loved ones. Reflecting on this patience should stir gratitude and a heart for evangelism.
At the same time, Peter exhorts us to live with holy impatience—a dissatisfaction with spiritual stagnation. We are called to “holy conduct and godliness” (2 Peter 3:11), living each day with eternity in view. This means striving for spiritual growth and hastening Christ’s return by sharing the gospel. Every moment counts as we anticipate the day when “new heavens and a new earth” will be our eternal home (2 Peter 3:13).
Holiness and urgency are not opposites but companions. While God’s patience grants more time for salvation, our impatience should drive us to live purposefully, working as if today is our last. Peter reminds us that scoffers may mock our faith, but their denial doesn’t diminish the truth of Christ’s return.
So, let’s live as “impatiently patient” people—thankful for God’s timing, yet passionately pursuing His purposes. As the early Christians declared, Maranatha—the Lord is coming soon!