61 Years Late
In 1946, Robert Probach wrote a prize-winning essay for the Gonzaga University’s student paper. When Robert tried to collect the $20 of prize money, the editor told him to come back later. On each succeeding visit, he got the same message—come back later. He never received the prize money. By 2007, the story had become family lore, and Robert’s son Gregg decided to see what would happen if he contacted the university about the matter.
On May 18, 2007, the university president handed Robert a check for $512 dollars—$20 plus 61 years of interest. Robert donated the check back to the university. Christians have been expecting the Lord’s soon return almost since Jesus’ ascension nearly 2,000 years ago. Is the Lord like an unfaithful newspaper editor—promising a reward that will never come?
Peter warns his readers that in the last days “scoffers” will come saying exactly that. Peter reminds us that God has an eternal perspective on time: “With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8). The psalmist corroborates this: “For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night” (Psalm 90:4).
Peter also reassures us that this apparent delay is not because He’s unwilling to keep His promise or has changed His mind: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
God is waiting to give out the prize so that as many people as possible can receive it. In the meantime, perhaps we can do what Robert Probach did once he finally received his prize money—share it with as many people as possible.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. Isaiah 30:18
61 Years Late
In 1946, Robert Probach wrote a prize-winning essay for the Gonzaga University’s student paper. When Robert tried to collect the $20 of prize money, the editor told him to come back later. On each succeeding visit, he got the same message—come back later. He never received the prize money. By 2007, the story had become family lore, and Robert’s son Gregg decided to see what would happen if he contacted the university about the matter.
On May 18, 2007, the university president handed Robert a check for $512 dollars—$20 plus 61 years of interest. Robert donated the check back to the university. Christians have been expecting the Lord’s soon return almost since Jesus’ ascension nearly 2,000 years ago. Is the Lord like an unfaithful newspaper editor—promising a reward that will never come?
Peter warns his readers that in the last days “scoffers” will come saying exactly that. Peter reminds us that God has an eternal perspective on time: “With the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day” (2 Peter 3:8). The psalmist corroborates this: “For a thousand years in Your sight Are like yesterday when it is past, And like a watch in the night” (Psalm 90:4).
Peter also reassures us that this apparent delay is not because He’s unwilling to keep His promise or has changed His mind: “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
God is waiting to give out the prize so that as many people as possible can receive it. In the meantime, perhaps we can do what Robert Probach did once he finally received his prize money—share it with as many people as possible.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for him. Isaiah 30:18
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