Autosterograms

Autostereograms are two-dimensional (2D) images with repeating patterns that hide a three-dimensional (3D) image – a picture within a picture. When we look at one of these pictures, our brains only see the 2D picture since it is the easiest to see. But when we focus beyond the 2D by looking at the pattern at a slightly different angle, our depth perception kicks in, and we can see the 3D design. Some people, however, can’t see the 3D picture within the 2D, regardless of how hard they try.

Below is an example of an autostereogram. It has a dinosaur hidden in it.

Peter talked about two things false teachers can’t see. He used the verb lanthano, which meant “escapes their mind.” First, the truths about creation, flood, and fire escaped their mind (2 Pet 3:5–6). Second, the truth about Lord’s timing escaped their mind, making them question the validity and fulfillment of the Lord’s promise to return. But Peter didn’t want his readers to be like them and said,

“Beloved, don’t let it escape your mind [lanthano] that, with the Lord, one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. The Lord does not delay his promises as some think of delay. Instead, he is waiting long for you, wishing some will not ruin, but everyone will hold on to repentance.” (2 Pet 3:8–9)

The Lord counts seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years differently than people do. That can make people misunderstand his promise of imminent return. Also, there is a difference between delay (vrathis) and waiting long (makrothimeo). If we are waiting for a bus at 10 am that should arrive then and the bus comes only at 10:30 am, that’s a delay. But when we tell our kids that we will go to the zoo at 10 am, but one has an upset stomach and must use the bathroom in a hurry, and we don’t leave the house until 10:30, that’s waiting long or patiently waiting (from the Greek makro “long” thimeo “burn” – a long burn). The Lord hadn’t returned quickly as the false teachers expected, not because he was delaying and his words couldn’t be trusted, but because he was waiting that some of them who wandered off wouldn’t end up ruined, but they would return to the Lord in repentance. In a way, the false teachers were causing the Lord’s delay; he wanted even them to return to him before he returned.

These truths were like autostereograms – hidden in plain sight! The false teachers couldn’t see them.

I often hear Christians say, “I think these are the last days,” “Lord, come quickly,” “I hope Christ comes back now,” or “This world is going to hell in a handbasket – why isn’t the Lord coming back quickly.” The Lord is waiting not because he is slow, forgetful, or can’t get himself ready. He is waiting for the billions that have not heard of the good news to hear them and accept him as their savior. We may think that the longer he waits, the more people become evil. Perhaps. But he isn’t in a rush because his timing is different than ours, and he has a reason to wait patiently. While he waits patiently, we spread the good news and pray that more people love him and understand the joy of knowing him.