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Knowing God is the ultimate quest of the human heart.  God has revealed Himself in the following ways:  (1) Through His Creative Acts (Rom. 1:20); (2) Through Special Revelation (His Word) (Ex. 34:6-7); and (3) Through His Son–Jesus Christ (John 14:9).  We can know the heart of God.
In II Peter 3:9, the Holy Spirit reveals, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  There are four affirmations in this text.  First, the veracity of God’s Word.  Second, the long-suffering of God.  Third, the desire of God to save.  Fourth, the call to repentance.
The Veracity of God’s Word
The promise referred to in this passage is the promise of the Second Coming of Jesus.  Jesus promised His disciples that He would come again.  “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” (John 14:1-3).  The word of God is true and faithful.  God cannot lie (I Sam. 15:29; Heb. 6:18; Titus 1:2).  The fulfillment of this promise is future (II Pet. 3:10-11).  The time of Christ’s return is not known by us (Matt. 24:36).  In regards to this promise, some men mock God (II Pet. 3:3-4).  However, there is a historical precedent–the Flood–that demonstrates the veracity of God’s Word and and His punitive power.  God is not slack (slow) concerning His promises.  God is not delaying or neglectful.  But, God is long-suffering.
The Longsuffering of God
The word lonsuffering (makrothumia) means “to demonstrate self-restraint in the face of provocation.”  Our sin provokes God’s wrath.  However, God is merciful and does not desire that any should perish.  God’s longsuffering is a function of His love and mercy.  God holds Himself back from punishing us immediately because He wills the salvation of every person. God’s long-suffering was functioning in the days of Noah.  Noah was a preacher of righteousness (I Pet. 3:20). God used Noah to proclaim repentance to the people in his day (Gen. 6:3; II Pet. 2:5).  After a period of 120 years, God brought the flood upon the earth. Behold, the heart of God!  God is long-suffering, but the period of His long-suffering ended and His wrath was poured out on the ungodly.
The Desire of God to Save
Paul confirms God’s desire to save.  In I Tim. 2:4, he writes, “Who will have all men to be saved and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.”  The scheme of redemption proves God’s desire to save from the ravages and eternal consequences of sin.  The cross of Jesus Christ proves it.  The gospel of Christ proves it.  Rom. 1:16 states, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”  Paul affirms, “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (I Tim. 1:15).  Because God desires that all be saved, He calls all people to repentance.
The Call to Repentance
Repentance describes the ultimate reversal.  It signifies the complete about-face of heart, mind, and thought and life that triggers conversion and initiates the transition from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light (Col. 1:13).  The Greek word metanoia literally means “to perceive afterwards.”  In other words, “to see afterwards” is to repent because we see that the way we thought or lived before was wrong and needed changing (see Os Guinness, Fools Talk, p. 43). Repentance involves turning away from sin and turning to God.  The call to repentance tests the hearts of men.  God has revealed His heart in His desire to save.  We reveal our hearts in whether or not we will repent.  The Judge of all men is coming again (II Pet. 3:10-11).  In view of this fact, we have to take advantage of the opportunity for salvation that God’s long-suffering creates.  “And account that the long-suffering of our Lord is salvation…” (II Pet. 3:15).  The Day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night. The world will end.  The Judge of all the earth will be manifest.  All will be judged by Him (Acts 17:31).  God’s long-suffering is our opportunity to be saved before the great and notable Day of the Lord when His punitive power will be unleashed on the ungodly and they will perish eternally.
Obey the Gospel
Every accountable person must obey the gospel (II Thess. 1:7-9) or face God’s wrath.  Peter said to those on the Day of Pentecost, “…repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost” (Acts 2:38).