PRAISE & PRAYER PROMPT ••• Today is the 1000th post on Instagram (not the 1000th prayer prompt… this is the 850th).
So in honor of that—we’re going to talk about 2 Peter 3:8.
It says, “Dear friends, don’t overlook this one fact: With the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day.”
It seems innocuous enough, but talk about a verse that can create some discussion, even debates…
Today, let’s identify two causes of debate that go with this verse and put some things in context.
First, this passage is referring to the second coming of Christ.
Peter didn’t want the reader to be discouraged or question whether God would keep His promise.
Peter used a simile here.
“With the Lord one day is LIKE a thousand years, and a thousand years LIKE one day” (Emphasis mine).
Peter used that simile to remind us that God exists outside of time.
As an eternal being, He isn’t limited to minutes on a clock.
His timetable, therefore, cannot be viewed as faulty as it’s beyond our understanding.
When God promises something, He will honor His commitment, even when it doesn’t come according to our timeline.
When we are tapping our feet, wondering what is taking Him so long, we are confusing our limited window of time with His infinite window of time.
The two can’t be compared.
It’s like a budget.
If you make $60,000 a year, your budget is going to look very different to someone who makes $600,000… or even $6,000,000.
The resources we have can create limits, but God is without limits.
The second point of debate is the debate of Creationism vs. evolution.
Many, including many Christians, use this verse as an argument for a millions-of-years-old earth.
The argument is that the universe wasn’t made in six literal days.
Here’s the flaw with that debate though: if you argue that “one day is like a thousand years for God,” as a way to support more time, your argument was just canceled out by the second part that says “a thousand years like one day.”
Personally, I believe in a literal six-day creation.
Because why not?
Just because I can’t wrap my brain around how God did it doesn’t mean I should put limits on His ability to do it.
He spoke creation into being because He is all-powerful.
Science isn’t my cup of tea but here’s one thing I know—science has never been able to disprove the Bible.
And if God’s Word says six days, I believe it.
So that verse really isn’t a good one to debate creationism vs. evolution.
The overall point though is an opportunity to be in awe of the timelessness of God.
Psalm 90:2 says, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”
And Isaiah 40:28 says, “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.”
Time doesn’t limit God because He is bigger than time.
Today, as you pray, thank God for His eternal presence.
Thank Him for being timeless and for His perfect timing.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you trust in His timetable, even when you don’t understand why He waits.
