A guy I used to work with said to me years ago, “Paranoia is just smart thinking when everyone’s against ya’.” Hard to argue with that. Well, this morning the Spirit’s reminding me that metanoia is just smart thinking when God’s for ya’.

“Jesus is coming again, you say. Really? So, where is He?” That was the voice of the scoffer in Peter’s day. The mocking mantra of those who were “following their own sinful desires” and sought to upset the exile’s apple cart, luring them off their pilgrim pathway with a detour of doubt (2Peter 3:3-4). To which Peter replied that the problem wasn’t with the Lord’s slackness but with the world’s sinfulness and that the Lord is waiting for metanoia.

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.

(2Peter 3:8-9 ESV)

Reach repentance . . . That’s what I’m chewing on this morning. The Greek word for repentance being . . . . you guessed it, metanoia.

Jesus isn’t slow in fulfilling His promise to come again (Rev. 22:7, 12, 20), “He s giving everyone space and time to change” (MSG). To change their mind. To reverse their course. As Moses put it, to “choose life . . . loving the LORD your God, obeying His voice and holding fast to Him” (Deut. 30:19-20). To do a 180, choosing the kingdom’s way of flourishing rather than the world’s way of futility. He wants all to reach repentance.

And if that were a thing for the non-Christian only, then I could skip these verses having checked that box some 48 years ago. But it ain’t just for the unsaved or the sins of my distant past — there’s the sins of yesterday to deal with. And so, metanoia is still smart thinking. Still required to stay on course in the exile’s pilgrimage. Still needed to battle the lure of “all that is in the world — the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life” (1John 2:16). Still the need to choose life and the way for flourishing over the way of futility.

And the Lord is still patient. But, says Paul, we are not to presume on His patience, or His forbearance, or His kindness. Instead, we are to remember “that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?” (Rom. 2:4). That His patience is meant to produce metanoia.

We cringe at repentance. We don’t like admitting we’ve failed again . . . and again . . . and again. It tastes like a bitter pill and so can become medicine we refuse to take. But if repentance is a place we end up at because of God’s kindness — and it is — then what offsets the bitterness? Can I suggest it’s the sweetness of coming to the Savior with our need and knowing afresh the joy of our salvation. It’s the respite found when we turn away from the world’s rat race and turn once more toward the Lord’s refuge. The refuge of the cross. The reminder that “God so loved the world” (John 3:16) The place where all striving ceases for “it is finished” (John 19:30). The place Jesus invites us to when He says, “Come to Me and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28).

Reach repentance . . . Something I need to do while I’m still God’s work in progress (Php. 1:6). Something I want to do, so that I truly might be “conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29).

Yup! Metanoia is just smart thinking when God’s for ya’.

And if God is for us? . . . Well, you know the rest. (Rom. 8:31)

By the power of His grace. To the praise of His glory.

Amen?