Why Hasn't Jesus Come Back Yet? (Part 1)

In chapter two of 2 Peter, we learn all about false teachers. We learn at the beginning of the chapter that they exist today and that their existence is under the umbrella of Christianity – even in the church. We see at the end of the chapter that they are as disgusting as vomit and as filthy as pigs wallowing in the mire. The verses in between gave us a litany of phrases describing their danger. Then, in the early verses of chapter three, Peter introduces us to a “sub-group” of false teachers that he calls mockers who are also among us and in the church. What is the difference between a false teacher and a mocker? False teachers deny the truth by distorting the Scriptures while mockers deny the truth by making light of Scripture.

In both cases, one of the main teachings of Peter that was under attack by the false teachers and the mockers of his day was the fact that Jesus is coming back. The early church definitely believed that this was true and it seems apparent from their writings that they expected it to happen in their lifetime. The mockers ridiculed this truth saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?” They used this question to make fun of a very important truth that should bring hope to each of us as believers. So beginning in verse eight of 2 Peter chapter three, Peter answers their question. Why hasn’t Jesus come back yet? The answer is rooted in God’s character. You see, to attack the Word of God, as the false teachers and mockers do, is to attack the very character of God because His Word and His character are linked inseparably.

So why hasn’t Jesus come back yet? The first answer to that question is that God has a different perspective on time than we do. This is hard for us to imagine in our day and age because we are literally confined, sometimes even enslaved to time. Let me prove it. Do you where a watch? How many times a day do you look to see what time it is? Could you go an entire day without ever knowing what time it was? The answers to all of these questions demonstrates how so very much of our lives is ruled by time.

In fact, our church services are ruled by time. I am a stickler to the fact that we have to start on time – even though in most cases well more than half of those who will ultimately be in the service are still in the lobby, in the parking lot or even still driving to church. And our services are all time-oriented. We know exactly how long each song and each element of the service takes. I know what time I am supposed to start preaching and I know at what time I am supposed to stop preaching and we follow that schedule. We are controlled by time – even in church.

Bu Jesus hasn’t come back yet because God has a different perspective on time. Peter says that one day to God is like a thousand years to us and a thousand years is like one day. Peter is quoting from Psalm 90:4 which teaches us that God transcends time. It has been over 2,000 years since Jesus ascended back into heaven after promising to return. For us, two thousand years is a long, long, long time. That’s why mockers ridicule this promise. They don’t understand the character of God. 2,000 years to Him is like a night’s sleep to us. So why hasn’t Jesus come back yet? One reason is because in God’s view, it hasn’t been all that long since the promise was first made.