However, the negative side of this even in fiction is seeing the sinful condition of humanity. Last night, one television show was the solving of a cold-case murder that depicted the mental and physical damage suffered by the perpetrator in the years before he was finally discovered and brought to justice by some extremely patient police officers.
This morning I read about the patience of God. The sin of the world is an ugly puzzle at times. Charnock lists some: blasphemies, oaths, thefts, adulteries, murders, oppressions, contempt of religion, the open idolatries of heathens, the more spiritual and refined idolatries of others, the ingratitude of those that profess His name, our pride, earthliness, carelessness, sluggishness to Divine duties, and in every one of those a multitude of provocations; the whole person engaged in every sin, the understanding contriving it, the will embracing it, the affections complying with it, and all the members of the body instruments in the acting the unrighteousness of it. Even the offenses all receive from our fellow-creatures is like dust compared to the injuries God receives from humanity.
Add to that the days of each lifetime and the numbers of people who have ever lived. Who can count all the foul-mouthed oaths, the beastly excess, the uncleanness, committed in the space of a day, year, twenty years in this city, much less in the whole nation, least of all, in the whole world?
They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. (Romans 1:29–31)Yet “millions of such haters of Him” breathe every day in His air, and are maintained by His goodness, have their tables spread, and their cups filled to the brim, and that in the midst of even boasting of their rejection of Him — even as God puts a stop to the devils who wish to destroy all of them.
Those who know Jesus sometimes want His fury to be poured out: But the people did not receive (Jesus), because his face was set toward Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. (Luke 9:53–55)
Such is His patience and nothing but patience stands in the gap to keep off judgment from sinners. And even the fiction I read or see on the screen awakens in me the desire to be patient. I don’t want those who sin to be patted on the head and given no rebuke, but I do want the goads of God to open their hearts in conviction of their guilt, but not just that. I also want sinners to know that Jesus Christ bore their sin and will rescue them from all slavery to it. As overwhelming as this is, it is the only way to peace with God and life eternal.
Paul wrote this:
I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life. To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:12–17)PRAY: Grant strength to me, to all who trust You, that we leave behind our sin and allow Your goodness and mercy to overflow in our lives. Thank You for Your incredible patience toward us and that this same patience is available to us through Your Holy Spirit. Amen.
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