God’s Indescribable Patience

Mysteries are my favorite genre, both in books and film, but even in real life. I love challenging puzzles that take time and patience to solve. I also particularly enjoy watching God resolve problems that seemed totally without solutions. 

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. 

In God’s hands

 

For the past few weeks, I’ve been caught up in what I thought God was doing and glorying in it, then found out I was wrong. Even if God was doing something, I was trying to share in His glory. Today, I read this:

A great concert violinist wanted to prove a point. He rented a music hall and announced that he would play a concert on a $20,000 violin. That night, the music hall was filled with music lovers, all anxious to hear this expensive instrument. The violinist gave an exquisite performance and received a thunderous standing ovation. When the applause subsided, he threw the violin to the floor, stomped it to pieces, and walked off the stage. The audience gasped, then sat in stunned silence.

Within seconds the stage manager approached the microphone and said, “Ladies and gentlemen, to put you at ease, the violin that was just destroyed was a $20 violin. The master will now return to play the remainder of his concert on the $20,000 instrument.” At the conclusion of his concert, he received another standing ovation. Few people could tell the difference between the two violins. His point was obvious: it isn’t the violin that makes the music; it’s the violinist.

It is bad enough to feel like a $20 violin but worse to realize that my performance can be mere noise. This isn’t about God using me to make music, but about me trying to do it without reading the notes. This is not to say that God is unable to use weak and useless people, but to remember He does it — I don’t. And it is for His glory, not mine. And my attitude is supposed to be like His:

Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is One who seeks it, and he is the judge. (John 8:50)

Jesus gives clear instructions about His ability and mine . . .

I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. Already you are clean because of the word that I have spoken to you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing . . . . If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. By this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. (John 15:1–8)

Jesus said that seeking my own glory indicates I am speaking on my own authority, not His (John 7:18) and that He did not receive glory from people (John 5:41). He also warned:

Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 6:1)

No wonder the Master stomped on my violin. Regardless of my worth, I can do nothing without Him and He longs to reward me for doing right. Robbing Him of glory is foolhardy.

PRAY: Jesus, I am thankful You promise to complete what You have begun in me. I’m also thankful that You forgive what I confess. It is okay to be joyful when I see You at work, but how foolish to take glory for myself in what You are doing. The difference may be subtle, even invisible to others, yet You make me aware of my selfishness. Grant me grace to be more and more alert to the times my old nature is tempted to push Your Spirit out so I can pat myself on the back. Instead, enable me to honor You — for You alone are worthy.

READ: 1 Timothy 1:12–17. What truths did Paul keep in mind as He served God?