There is a saying that states, "He who laughs last, laughs best!" God does not consider any of this a laughing matter. God does not look to a last laugh. And we should not press on carelessly, and thoughtlessly ...to our last chance.

The very difficult position that Abraham Lincoln found himself in during the dreadful Civil War, led one person to ask him a question that perhaps was not too well thought out.  But, Abe perhaps had thought it out many times in his head, feeling there was no good solution to the problem. Yet, when asked if he felt God was on the side of the North, Abe carefully answered, as not to divide a nation, nor minimize the gravity of decisions with which they were faced, "Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side ..."

We know God is loving ...and we know God is forgiving, and obviously, the truth of that is on the 'side' of our concerns.  But, if we look to God ...what are His concerns??

The Bible says that our Lord, God, " ...is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

As 2nd Thessalonians spoke of those who did not receive (or accept) "THE LOVE OF THE TRUTH, that they may be saved" ...of course, they are saved through the love of Jesus.  Yet, that also includes the TRUTH.

And as it was 2 Peter 3:9, which spoke of God's desire that none would  perish, the very next verse states, "But the day of the Lord will come  as a thief in the night ..."

Then the next verse asks, " ...what manner of persons ought we be ..."

It seems clear that we should not be in a delusion, nor thinking as the world often thinks ...with a reprobate mind.  We should not look to our own portrait of Jesus, but to the very essence of who He is ...described in the only place I know of, as a testimony of His life. 

Yes, the Bible ...not to assume ourselves as editors, picking and choosing what we believe should be there, and what shouldn't.

It is all there ...for all of us.