We have difficulty grasping God with our limited intelligence. Although we cannot fully understand God, we can learn things about Him through His Word. One of those things that we know about God is that He is longsuffering. “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).
Webster defines longsuffering as “long and patient endurance of offense.” There is little doubt to those with just a little Bible knowledge that God has been longsuffering. There are countless examples in the Bible of this very fact.
God was longsuffering during the days of Noah (1 Peter 3:20). From the time He commanded Noah to build the ark till the flood came, God waited approximately 120 years. Over a century was given for the world to turn before God’s longsuffering ended.
God was longsuffering toward the nation of Israel. God’s longsuffering towards Israel was even longer than that shown in the days of Noah. God pleaded with them through His servants Moses and Joshua, through the judges, through some of the kings, and through His prophets. Sometimes the people heeded the words of God’s messengers, but their obedience was always short lived. God was longsuffering for centuries, but eventually it ended.
God has also been longsuffering to you and me. If you have not yet become a Christian, He has been longsuffering to you giving you another opportunity. If you are a Christian but are living unfaithfully, God is giving you a chance to get your life right. God has been longsuffering, but that longsuffering will run out.
Although God’s longsuffering is great; it does eventually end. When it came to an end in the days of Noah, all but eight individuals died because of the flood. When His longsuffering ended toward the nation of Israel, they were taken into captivity.
And eventually His longsuffering will end for you. “And to give you who are troubled rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels, in flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:7-8).
But there is good news. If you are reading this, then He has extended His longsuffering to you once more. He is longsuffering to you because He wants you to be saved (2 Peter 3:15). Don’t put it off any longer, because when His longsuffering ends…
- Justin Paschall of Ripley, Tn.
No comments:
Post a Comment