God's Patience, Fire, and a Thief

2 Peter 3:9-10 “ The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  But the Day of the Lord will come like a thief.  The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. (Burned up)”

            Lord, first of all, thank You for Your patience toward me and my family so we could come to repentance, but Lord, there are so many more who need to come too!  As much as I long for Your coming, I must never be selfish, but love as many into the kingdom as possible.  Only this will hasten Your coming.

            Lord, thankfully, I have never had a thief enter my home, and I pray I never do, but I am positive of one thing: a thief does not call first or knock on the door and ask permission to enter.  Thieves are always unexpected; some are silent like the “Cat Burglar”, some are bold and brash like those who rob banks and convenience stores in broad daylight.  Either way, they come quickly with a single intent.  Your coming has been announced long ago, however.  We just do not know when it is on Your calendar.  Because of that, we should be about Your business daily.

            Lord, what an awful terrible day it will be when it happens!  I cannot imagine!  I know if we did not have the atmosphere above us, the sun would burn everything, or if You moved the earth even one degree toward the sun, we would all fry.  So the idea that this could happen is not at all unbelievable.  For those who are left here, it will be terrifying, if only for the instant before they themselves are consumed.

            Again, Lord, I do not want to be selfish with my salvation, but want as many as You give me to witness to to hear of Your wonderful salvation.