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“The Day of the Lord” was an event that appeared imminent even during early Christian Church times. The Christians in these Churches then were waiting impatiently for the coming of that “Day”. They desperately longed to be rescued from the severe persecutions from both the Roman rulers as well as from the Jewish religious authorities. O! that the Lord Jesus would come quickly (Rev 22:20) to free them and to punish the wicked! Sadly, some had even started to lose faith that there will be a coming event that will usher deliverance for them and judgment to the wicked.
In 2 Peter 3, the Apostle Peter was trying to help the Jewish Christians in Asia Minor to understand the grace and mercy of a loving and forgiving God. They needed the reminder of the timelessness of the God of eternity and the assurance that judgment for the wicked and evil will certainly come. Now, about 2,000 years later, Christians are still waiting for “The Day of the Lord” that will herald the end of the world. Many Christians today are, however, thankful for this “extra time” given to them.
How is this then related to the Great Commission of Matt. 28:18-20? IN EVERY WAY! For those of us who have already accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour, 2 Peter 3:9, 10 will then imply that the Lord is also patient with us in fulfilling this Great Commission through faithful obedience in proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus! So people of the world having heard the Good News, many will come to repentance, call on the Name of the Lord Jesus, and be saved (Rom 10:9)!
Our Lord Jesus has declared to His disciples: “open your eyes and look at the fields. They are ripe for harvest” (Jn 4:35)! By the grace and mercy of God, He is extremely patient with us. He provides opportunity after opportunity for us to reach out, not only to our loved ones, friends, neighbours and colleagues, but also to every nation, tribe, language and people who live on the earth (Rev 14:6). As the “Day of the Lord” approaches exceedingly near, let us rise up as Christians and join Jesus in His harvest field, so that together, with great rejoicing, we may reap precious people for the Kingdom of God (Lk 10:2; Jn 4:36). It’s never too late until it’s too late!
