Patience is a key ingredient for success and happiness, but often overlooked in today's fast-paced world. The Chinese bamboo tree is a great example of the power of patience. It takes five years to grow, with no visible growth above the ground for the first four years. In the fifth year, it suddenly shoots up to over 80 feet tall in just six weeks. This story teaches us that patience is necessary for growth and success.
God exhibits great patience. We read his patience through out the Bible
God’s Patience is for us to Repent
2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) 'The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. '
Romans 2:4 (NIV) 'Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? '
Many times we misunderstand the ways of God, the world is filled with Sin, often we see Sin grow more compared to the times we live now vs past life. Still there is no end to this, We may wonder why should God do this way ? God is patient with our Sins to give us more time so that we come to him to repentance 2 Peter 3:9 (NIV) “…. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. '
We sinners have to be put to death Romans 6:23 (NIV) 'For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.' because of his action we are given the gift of eternal life to stand in front of Christ Jesus.
As we live a life in the world which is filled with Sin, he choose to give us his Grace and mercy to wait for us to come back and repent. But we humans take advantage of Grace and Sin more by no means we cannot continue like that (Romans 6:1-3), but wait the patience will run soon (Romans 11:22)..
Romans 6:1-3. (NIV) 'What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? '
Romans 11:22 (NIV) 'Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off. '
Israelite's example - Lets understand God’s patience on how he dealt with the Israelites, which we can apply to our life.
He chose Moses to lead the Israelites from Egypt and free them from the bondage of slavery.
He destroyed Pharaoh and his army. No one survived, even after giving Pharaoh multiple chances to repent. He failed, and finally, he was destroyed. Exodus 14:18,28 (NIV) 'The Egyptians will know that I am the Lord when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.” The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. '
The path from the Red Sea to Canaan is very short, but God led the Israelites to the desert to live there for 40 years. Every day, he gave them manna and quail. As they became disgruntled and constantly looked back on their life of slavery in Egypt, they compared all the hardships they had to go through in the desert. Numbers 11:5-7,31-32 (NIV) 'We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost—also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and garlic. But now we have lost our appetite; we never see anything but this manna!” The manna was like coriander seed and looked like resin. Now a wind went out from the Lord and drove quail in from the sea. It scattered them up to two cubits deep all around the camp, as far as a day’s walk in any direction. All that day and night and all the next day the people went out and gathered quail. No one gathered less than ten homers. Then they spread them out all around the camp. '
God asks Moses to identify a leader from each ancestral tribe to show them the promised land of Canaan. This way, they would at least believe if they heard from their tribe's leader. Numbers 13:1-2,27 (NIV) 'The Lord said to Moses, “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders.” They gave Moses this account: “We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. '
After seeing that the members raise the voices and wept aloud and grumbled against the Lord and Moses. Numbers 14:1-3 (NIV) 'That night all the members of the community raised their voices and wept aloud. All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, “If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this wilderness! Why is the Lord bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn’t it be better for us to go back to Egypt?” '
This action aroused God's anger, but Moses interceded for the people, asking God to relent his anger towards them. Numbers 14:11,18-20 (NIV) - 'The Lord said to Moses, “How long will these people treat me with contempt? How long will they refuse to believe in me, in spite of all the signs I have performed among them? ‘The Lord is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.’ In accordance with your great love, forgive the sin of these people, just as you have pardoned them from the time they left Egypt until now.” The Lord replied, “I have forgiven them, as you asked. '
After being given another chance in the 40 years, they still did not listen to Moses or the Lord. Finally, God's anger burned all of the Israelites except Joshua Son of Nun and Caleb Son of Jephunneh, who alone made it to the Promised Land of Canaan. Numbers 14:24 (NIV) 'But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it. '
Our Excuses for Repentance
My sin is not as bad as others'. - We often compare our sins to those of others, saying "My sin is not as bad as theirs." This reminds us of what Jesus said when people compared themselves to the Galileans. Luke 13:1-3 (NIV) 'Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, “Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. '
Emboldened with His mercy. - Many times we compare and say, "God did not punish me earlier for this sin," so it's okay to continue in the sin and not repent from that way. Ecclesiastes 8:11-12 (NIV) 'When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong. Although a wicked person who commits a hundred crimes may live a long time, I know that it will go better with those who fear God, who are reverent before him. '
We live in the New Age of Grace. - "I'm living under grace." God is merciful, so even though I will continue to sin, his grace will cover me. Romans 5:20 (NIV) 'The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, ' Romans 6:1-2 (NIV) - 'What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? '
“Christ is my Advocate, not Accuser.” - Christ does not accuse us, yes he does not accuse of our Sin, he is my Advocate so I can wait longer to repent Romans 8:1-2 (NIV) 'Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. '
"I'm special to God... I'm indispensable." - We have all been called for a specific purpose and action, which is why we were chosen by God even before our time. However, we must not consider ourselves indispensable to God because He has countless ways to fulfill His purposes, with numerous plans at His disposal. If we believe that we are indispensable, we are living in a delusional state. No, God can bypass us as He did with Israel - Romans 10:20-21 (NIV) 'And Isaiah boldly says, “I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me.” But concerning Israel he says, “All day long I have held out my hands to a disobedient and obstinate people.”'
In the event that you hear His voice, do not become stubborn like the Israelites did.
Hebrews 3:7-10 (NIV) 'So, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as you did in the rebellion, during the time of testing in the wilderness, where your ancestors tested and tried me, though for forty years they saw what I did. That is why I was angry with that generation; I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known my ways.’ '
If TODAY is too early for your repentance with God, your TOMORROW will be too late for His acceptance! "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says..."
Revelation 3:19-20,22 (NIV) - ' Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”'
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