The Patience Of God # 2

 The Patience Of God # 2

Thirdly, as a pattern for us: "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (Colossians 3:12). Ang again, "Be therefore followers (emulators) of God, as dear children" (Eph. 5:1). When tempted to be disgusted at the dullness of another, or to be revenged on one who has wronged you, call to remembrance God's infinite patience and longsuffering with yourself.

The patience of God is manifested in His dealings with sinners.

How strinkingly was it displayed toward the antediluvians. When mankind was universally degenerate, and all flesh had corrupted its way, God did not destroy them until He had forewarned them. He "waited", during which time Noah was a "preacher of righteousness" (2 Peter 2:5).

In the same way, later, when the Gentiles not only worshiped and served the creature more than the Creator, but also committed the vilest abominations contrary even to the dictates of nature (Romans 1:19-26) and thereby filled up the measure of their iniquity, yet, instead of drawing His sword for the extermination of such rebels, God "allowed all nations to walk in their own ways," and gave them "rain from Heaven and fruitful seasons" (Acts 14:16-17).

Marvelously was God's patience exercised and manifested toward Israel. First, He endured their conduct for forty years in the wilderness. Later, when they had entered Canaan, but followed evil customs of the nations around them, and turned to idolatry, though God chastened them sorely, He did not utterly destroy them, but in their distress, raised up deliverers for them. When their iniquity was raised to such a height that none but a God of infinite patience could have borne with them, He spared them many years before He allowed them to be carried down into Babylon.

Finally, when their rebellion against Him reached its climax by crucifying His Son, He waited forty years before He sent the Romans against them, and that, only after they had judged themselves unworthy of everlasting life" (Acts 13:46).

How wondrous is God's patience with the world today. On every side people are sinning with a high hand. The divine law is trampled under foot, and God Himself is openly despised. It is truly amazing that He does not instantly strike dead those who brazenly defy Him. Why does He not suddenly cut off the haughty infidel and blatant blasphemer, as He did Ananias and Sapphira?

And what of apostate Christendom, where every possible form of sin is now tolerated and practiced under cover of the holy name of Christ?

And what of the writer and the reader? Let us review our own lives. It is not long since we followed a multitude to do evil, had no concern for God's glory, and lived only to gratify self. How patiently He bore with our vile conduct! And now that grace has snatched us as brands from the burning, giving us a place in God's family, and has begotten us unto an eternal inheritance in glory - how miserable we requite Him. How shallow our gratitude, how tardy our obedience, how frequent our backslidings!

One reason why God allows the flesh to remain in the believer is that He may exhibit His "patience to us." (2 Peter 3:9). Since this divine attribute is manifested only in this world, God takes advantage to display it toward "His own."

May our meditation upon this divine excellency soften our hearts, make our consciences tender, and may we learn in the school of holy experience the "patience of saints," namely, submission to the divine will and continuance in well-doing. Let us earnestly seek grace to emulate this divine excellency. "Be therefore perfect, even as your Father who is in Heaven is perfect" (Matt. 5:48). In the immediate context of this verse Christ exhorts us to love our enemies, bless those who curse us, do good to those who hate us. God bears long with the wicked notwithstanding the multitude of their sins - and shall we desire to be revenged because of a single offense?

~A. W. Pink~

(The End)