Looking
at the events of history one often observes times when it appears that the
hinges of history turn. In the United States, the Boston Tea Party led by the
Sons of Liberty on December 16, 1773, was one such point. There a group of tax
protesters turned Boston Harbor into a salty “pot” of tea. More recently in
China
the hinge of history turned at the
Student Protest at Tiananmen Square on April 21, 1989. On
that day 100,000 students gathered at Beijing's Tiananmen Square to commemorate
deposed reform-minded leader of the Communist Party Hu Yaobang. The event unleashed
voices of discontent against China's authoritative communist government. Ultimately,
this led to the June massacres of demonstrators by Chinese troops and the
arrest of thousands of protesters and other dissidents. But this also led to a
reform movement that is still underway. The picture of students standing defiantly
before massive tanks is etched in minds of many around the world, and especially
the citizens of China. Throughout history it seems there comes a time when people
come to the point of exasperation and say, “Enough is enough!”
One is never really sure of all of
the ingredients that provoked such protests. We tend to focus upon the catalyst
that ignited the historical flash point. However, we realize the Boston Tea
Party was about more than taxed tea. The protest in Tiananmen Square was about
more than a deposed reform-minded leader. There was a “back-story” to these events
where the hinges of history turned. How much does it take for people to get to
the point where they break into a no-holds-barred protest?
Dotting the pages of Scripture there
are points in time when God concluded that enough is enough. Consider the days
of Noah when a time came where the judgment of God fell (Genesis 6). In the
days of Abraham a time came when God looked at the peoples of Sodom and
Gomorrah (Genesis 19) and determined that enough was enough. In the days of
Moses the hinges of history turned as the judgment of God fell on Egypt (Exodus
7-11). In all of these cases and many more, there was a point in time when God
acted. Could God have acted earlier? Certainly. Could He have waited longer? If
He wanted to. The point is we do not know the “back-story” like God does.
Peter seems to address this in 2
Peter 3. People were criticizing, challenging, and even ridiculing the
possibility of God intervening and changing history at a point in time. The
particular issue at hand had to do with the “return of Christ.” These scoffers
were bold enough to conclude that the course of history would not and could not
be altered by God. They snidely concluded that “all things continue as they
were from the beginning of creation” (verse 4). Peter points out that such
people have forgotten history (verse 5-6) and do not realize that God alone
controls its course. God specifically knows the point in history when the
hinges of history will turn one last time as He carries out His just judgment
against those who are in rebellion against Him and His will (verse 7).
The question Peter then answers is
about the seeming delay of Christ’s return and His just judgment. Is God a
“slacker?” No, God is merciful. Peter writes, “The Lord… is longsuffering
toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to
repentance” (verse 9). Part of the “back-story” of God not closing the door of
history relates to His character. He is longsuffering. He is provides time for
repentance to occur until He finally says, “Enough is enough.”
The Psalmist wrote a song to
commemorate the Lord who “is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and
abounding in mercy,” adding, “He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
nor punished us according to our iniquities” (103:8, 10). The Psalmist adds a
stern reminder, “He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger
forever” (103:9). I suppose one might conclude from the Psalmist’s insights,
“In His mercy he has not yet said, ‘Enough is enough.’ But He will.”
In contrast with my Heavenly Father,
I recall my Dad and his level of patience with a hyper-energetic son. Sunday in
our Irish home was to be a day of rest and quiet. My Dad worked a six-day work-week
as a manager for the Acme Markets and was justly exhausted when Sunday came. He
announced on numerous occasions that he wanted to enjoy some “peace and quiet”
on Sunday afternoon. I knew what he wanted; however, there were those occasions
when my energy seemed to exceed my capacity for compliance. After a few energy
outbursts echoed through our home, suddenly the Sunday newspaper that had lain
on his lap as he napped, was flung into the air and I was in the grip of an
Irishman that had woken out of his Sunday afternoon hibernation. Without going
into details, judgment fell swiftly! It was just. I knew what was expected. I
had violated his “Sunday afternoon law.”
In my life I have done much more
than violated God’s will. I have been defiant in doing so. How thankful I am
that my Heavenly Father has responded to me with longsuffering mercy and grace.
He did not dismiss His will because of my rebellion, but He gave me the
opportunity to repent. There will come a point in time when God looks at
rebellious humanity and say, “Enough is enough.” That hinge in history will
come. It has not yet. However, it could happen at any time. In view of the
inevitable, wouldn’t it be wise both personally and nationally to heed Peter’s
words and “come to repentance?”
