How does God count time, and what does He want for men?

2 Peter 3:8 But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Beloved, a favorite word of Peter's to describe his readers, those who had come faith in God through trusting Christ to save them. They are beloved, or greatly loved by God. The word means, to be fond of, to have an affection for. It's a blessing to remember, that this is how the Lord looks at us, and this is how He regards us. We are His "beloved" 

Now, we are called not to forget something about the Lord. Which apparently, we can forget. So, he reminds us not to forget this one particular thing. And, it has to do with what a 1000 years is to the Lord. 

We know what a 1000 years is to us. It's about 9 1/3 longer of a period of time then most of us will live. Most of us will live, or could live up into their 80's or so. But, a 1000 years, is a long time compared to how long we might live on this earth. 

Anyways, to the Lord, a 1000 years is as one day. Now, what does this mean? It means that it is virtually nothing to God. It goes by quickly. A day, compared to a 1000 years, is nothing. So, time with God is experienced, or goes by so much more rapidly then it does for us. If the earth is 6-7000 years old, then, as far as God is concerned, it's only been 6-7 days since Genesis chapter 1. 

And, one day is as a thousand years. Additionally, we are told that one day to the Lord does encompass a long period of time. I can only take this for what it says. God sees and interacts with, experiences ( if you will ) time in a different way then we do. It does help to remember what Peter is talking about, and that is, the fact that while things seem to have dragged on for a long time, God does not consider it a long time. 

Here's how God considers time, and how we ought to as well, along with several other things to consider. 

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

First of all.....The Lord is not slack concerning His promise as some men count slackness. That is, God is not careless, lazy or negligent as some men are. So, the apparent delay in the promise of God being fulfilled is not in any way due to slackness on God's part. Not at all. God is not tardy, or late.  God is not someone who makes a promise and then does not keep it. No, He is better then His promise. 

Secondly, He is long suffering towards us . That means, that God suffers along time towards us. He is very patient, He is waiting. 

Thirdly, He is not willing, or does not desire that any person would perish ( by their refusing Christ, and not believing in Christ and then dying and going into judgement ) No, quite the contrary, He wants all to come to repentance, to Him. He wants them to change their minds about Him, and receive Christ whom they have not yet received. They have thought one way about Jesus, God, wants them to change their thinking. To go from rejecting Him, to accepting Him. That's what the Lord wants. 

So, that's how God views and deals with time. That's why the promise of God to judge the world has not yet come about. God loves all men, Christ died for all men, and all men can be saved by coming to Jesus Christ. That's what God is wanting, and waiting for. However, there will come a time when the judgement does come, and Peter addresses that in the next few verses. 

May God bless you greatly today with His grace, mercy and peace. 

In Jesus name, 

Pastor Bob Grenier.