“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

The author of the above verse is Peter.  Peter the impetuous, spontaneous, act before you think, strike back quickly in defense person who has been taught by Jesus.  Jesus did his “best and greatest work” in Peter who Jesus nicknamed “The Rock.” For Peter to write about patience shows his change of thinking! 

Peter, The Rock becomes a foundation, as predicted by Jesus, upon which lives would be changed for eternity in the Name of Jesus!  The Rock would stand forever because the enemy cannot not penetrate the living stones that stand firmly cemented on The Rock with Jesus Christ as the Cornerstone.  This firm foundation, built upon the Solid Rock of Jesus will include generation after generation of people who turn to God, eager to trust and obey.

I once heard a pastor tell of a dream he had.  He dreamed he saw Jesus standing next to God.  God is the only one who knows the time of judgement day.  Jesus leans in and says, “Father, just one more day…there are still many who don’t know you and have not turned to You.  Please, just one more day…”  Whoa, imagine it!  Jesus is our Advocate in heaven for us.  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  Turn to God, through Jesus, and be saved!  Forever!

Why am I talking about Peter?  It occurs to me that Peter is always with Jesus.  So, when Jesus responds to the news of Pilate murdering worshipers, Peter is listening.  Peter’s first thoughts (like us) are most likely, given his noted personality, is to fight back and take revenge.  Peter listens, ready to defend, as Jesus tells the people simply; “Unless you turn to God, you, too, will die.” 

Wait, what?!  Is that all?  Jesus’ words were unexpected and not the reaction the news bearers probably wanted to hear.  The people hated Pilate.  They were appalled at what he did to the worshipers.  They want Jesus to be the leader of a revolution to end this oppression once and for all!  Instead, Jesus says, “turn to God.”

Peter, mentored by the Son of God, is transformed by Him. His thinking changes his demeanor. Peter who used to be first to “fight to the death” will later teach what Jesus ingrained in Him—Life eternal through Jesus.  Peter realizes, through Jesus, who God is and what God desires most from His created humans—For all people to turn to Him and love Him back. 

Turning to God requires an about face from the dark side to Light.  Turning to God means turning our backs from the enemy of darkness to face Him in humbled repentance, bowed worship and joyful adoration which signifies our desire to trust and obey the One who created all and is in all that He created.

Yes, Jesus changes everything.  Jesus responds with Kingdom thinking.

Luke 13, The Message

Unless You Turn to God

^1-5 About that time some people came up and told him about the Galileans Pilate had killed while they were at worship, mixing their blood with the blood of the sacrifices on the altar. Jesus responded, “Do you think those murdered Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans? Not at all. Unless you turn to God, you, too, will die. And those eighteen in Jerusalem the other day, the ones crushed and killed when the Tower of Siloam collapsed and fell on them, do you think they were worse citizens than all other Jerusalemites? Not at all. Unless you turn to God, you, too, will die.”

^6-7 Then he told them a story: “A man had an apple tree planted in his front yard. He came to it expecting to find apples, but there weren’t any. He said to his gardener, ‘What’s going on here? For three years now I’ve come to this tree expecting apples and not one apple have I found. Chop it down! Why waste good ground with it any longer?’

^8-9 “The gardener said, ‘Let’s give it another year. I’ll dig around it and fertilize, and maybe it will produce next year; if it doesn’t, then chop it down.’”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus, the gardener, says; “Let’s give it another year…”  “Just one more day…” Oh how glad I am that Jesus, who took the punishment for our sins so that we may have life forever, stands in heaven as our Advocate to the Father!   Let that sink in—to the depths of our souls this morning!

I have read through God’s Word, His love story to us, many times in my life on earth.  What I have discovered with every word on every page is this—Our Creator, God the Father, loves us and just wants us to love Him back.  To do that, however, we must turn to face Him.

In all things, turn to God.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 Yes, even the small stuff becomes big, overwhelming stuff when God is not involved in the details of our lives.  And get this, God delights in the details!  “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the LORD holds them by the hand.” Psalm 37:23-25

There is no one like our God.  Turn to God.  Listen to God’s prophets…

• “There is none like You, O Lord; You are great, and great is Your name in might.”  Jeremiah 10:6
• “There is no one holy like the Lord, indeed, there is no one besides You, nor is there any rock like our God.” 1 Samuel 2:2
• “There is no one like You among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like Yours.” Psalm 86:8
• “Indeed their rock is not like our Rock, Even our enemies themselves judge this.”  Deuteronomy 32:31
• “Remember the former things long past, For I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me…” Isaiah 46:9

Turn to God who knows us best and wants the best for us!  The Psalms declare who God is for us—

“The Lord is compassionate and merciful,
    slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
He will not constantly accuse us,
    nor remain angry forever.
He does not punish us for all our sins;
    he does not deal harshly with us, as we deserve.
For his unfailing love toward those who fear him
    is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
He has removed our sins as far from us
    as the east is from the west.”  Psalm 103:8-12, NLT

“…the love of the Lord remains forever
    with those who fear him.
His salvation extends to the children’s children
 of those who are faithful to his covenant,
    of those who obey his commandments!

The Lord has made the heavens his throne;
    from there he rules over everything.”  Psalm 103:17-19

So, what are we waiting for?  Believe, repent and be saved.

Lord,

I pray David’s psalm 51:7-17 to you this morning…

“Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean,
    scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life.
Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,
    set these once-broken bones to dancing.
Don’t look too close for blemishes,
    give me a clean bill of health.
God, make a fresh start in me,
    shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don’t throw me out with the trash,
    or fail to breathe holiness in me.
Bring me back from gray exile,
    put a fresh wind in my sails!
Give me a job teaching rebels your ways
    so the lost can find their way home.
Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God,
    and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.
Unbutton my lips, dear God;
    I’ll let loose with your praise.

^16-17 Going through the motions doesn’t please you,
    a flawless performance is nothing to you.
I learned God-worship
    when my pride was shattered.
Heart-shattered lives ready for love
    don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.

In Jesus Name, By His Power working in us, For His Glory, Amen!  I believe.