“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
2 Peter 3:8–9
Why wait?
On July 2, 2018, after nine days of searching, John Volanthon and Rick Stanton emerged from frigid murky waters into a small cavern. They were over 3 miles into the Tham Luang cave and as they rose from the water they saw a group of exhausted boys now filled with unexpected hope. Exceeding all expectations, all thirteen members of the Wild Boars soccer team were found alive. Their first desire was for food, but quickly they turned their questions to when they could leave the cavern.
However, the momentary elation of finding the boys quickly turned to deep concern as the rescue team considered the seemingly impossible logistics of bringing 13 untrained people safely through some of the most difficult cave diving terrain in the world. The days passed quickly for those at a distance keeping track of the story on the news. For the family and close friends of the team, each day must have drug on into eternity as they thought about their loved ones still trapped inside the cave.
Though the boys remained trapped, they were not left alone. They were joined by four Thai Navy Seals who endured with them the remainder of their time in the cave. As the days stretched on, the rescue team explored every way to get the boys safely out. They searched for another path into the cave, they considered drilling down to them from above, the even thought of waiting months through the rainy season until the waters receded. However, with additional rains in the forecast and air running low, the urgency of the situation became more acute. The rescue team decided to bring the boys out one at a time through the flooded cave.
Guided by three divers, the first boy was rescued from the cave on Sunday, July 8. Over the next two days the remainder of the boys and the coach were rescued, ending one of the most harrowing cave rescues in all of history.
God often works on a timetable that is very different from ours. We endure trials and struggles that seem to drag on forever. God is not making you wait without reason; He is constantly at work to bring people to salvation and at just the right time, Jesus will return to make all things new. It may seem like God is slow to act, it appears to us that 2000 years is a long time to wait for Jesus return, but to the Lord 1000 years is as one day, so let us be ready each day for His return.