Taking God's Patience for Granted

Last week I was traveling with my son on a bus taking a tour of some historical sites. Our tour guide stressed punctuality over and over again. She kept telling us that if we were not on the bus at the right time, the bus would leave us. She was not trying to be mean. She made it clear that the purpose for this emphasis on punctuality was that a group our size had specific times assigned to us to tour certain sites and if we missed the allotted time, the whole group would miss the tour. So each individual had to be responsible for being on the bus when it was time to move on to the next location so that the rest of the group did not miss some wonderful opportunities.

Despite our tour guide's clear warnings, there always seemed to be one or two people who were late. Though the guide was patient, there came a moment when she said we had to leave, and off we drove without one of our tour participants. Fortunately, that person was able to catch a cab and join us later that day, but the whole group learned a valuable lesson, don't take the tour guide's patience for granted!

That reminds me of the truth expressed in 2 Peter 3:9-10, "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed."

Like so many truths we encounter in life, there are positive and negative aspects to how we relate to the Lord. These verses remind us that God is patient. I am thankful for that patience, aren't you? But these verses also remind us that one day Jesus is coming back and then judgement will come. So while we can be thankful for His patience, let us not take it for granted. For payday comes someday. Let us watch and pray and be ready for that day.

Lord, help us hear Your clear instructions and live in readiness of Your return. Amen.

----------------

Dr. Terry W. Dorsett has been a pastor, church planter, denominational leader and author in New England for more than 20 years. He is a happy husband, a proud father and adoring grandfather. He is a cancer survivor and believes that God works powerfully through times of suffering. He writes extensively and you can find all of his books at:

http://www.amazon.com/Dr.-Terry-W.-Dorsett/e/B00405U4NY