God’s patience towards the world today is truly wondrous. Despite the rampant sin and blatant defiance of His laws, God does not instantly strike down those who brazenly defy Him.
The question then arises, why does God not suddenly cut off the haughty infidel and blatant blasphemer, as He did Ananias and Sapphira?
Why does He not cause the earth to open up and devour the persecutors of His people, as in the case of Dothan and Abiram? And what of apostate Christendom, where sin is now tolerated and practiced under cover of the holy name of Christ?
The answer is simple: God bears with “much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction.”
Learning Patience from God’s Mercy
As we examine our own lives, we realize that we too were once lost in sin and had no concern for God’s glory. But God patiently bore with our vile conduct, and in His mercy, He rescued us from eternal damnation.
Yet, how miserably we sometimes repay Him. Our gratitude is often shallow, our obedience tardy, and our backslidings frequent. It is only by God’s grace that we are saved and not by our own merit.
And it is because of His longsuffering that we have the opportunity to grow in our faith.
The longsuffering of God is a divine attribute that is manifested only in this world, and God takes advantage of this opportunity to display it towards “His own.”
As believers, we are to learn from this divine attribute and strive to emulate it in our daily lives. In the school of holy experience, we must learn the “patience of saints” by submitting to the divine will and continuing in well-doing.
The Longsuffering of God Towards the World
The world today is characterized by rampant sin and open defiance of God’s laws. It is truly amazing that God does not instantly strike down those who so brazenly defy Him.
Instead, He bears with “much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction.” This divine attribute is demonstrated in the world every day, and it is a testament to God’s mercy and love for humanity.
God’s longsuffering towards the world is a demonstration of His infinite mercy and grace. He does not desire that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).
It is because of His longsuffering that we have the opportunity to repent and turn to Him. If God were to immediately punish every sinner, no one would be left standing. But God, in His infinite wisdom, has chosen to bear with our sins, giving us the opportunity to turn to Him and receive forgiveness.
As believers, we should be grateful for God’s longsuffering towards us and the world. We should also strive to share the message of God’s mercy and love with others, encouraging them to turn to Him and receive forgiveness.
We should not be quick to judge or condemn others, but rather extend grace and mercy, just as God has extended it to us.
The Longsuffering of God Towards Believers
As believers, we too benefit from God’s longsuffering. It is because of His patience that we have the opportunity to grow in our faith and become more like Christ.
We must remember that we are not saved by our own merit but by God’s grace. It is only through His mercy that we have been adopted into His family and given an eternal inheritance in glory.
But even as believers, we sometimes fall short. Our gratitude is often shallow, our obedience tardy, and our backslidings frequent.
We must remember that God’s longsuffering towards us does not give us license to continue in sin or take His grace for granted. Rather, it should lead us to repentance and a deeper desire to please Him.
As the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 2:4, “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”
This verse reminds us that God’s kindness is not an excuse for us to continue in sin, but rather a call to turn away from it and pursue righteousness.
When we understand the true depth of God’s love and mercy towards us, it compels us to live a life that is pleasing to Him.
It is also important to remember that God’s longsuffering towards us is not without limits. While He is patient and merciful, He is also just and holy.
The Bible warns us that there will come a day of judgment when every person will give an account for their life (Hebrews 9:27).
As Peter wrote, “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” (2 Peter 3:10).
Therefore, let us not take God’s longsuffering for granted, but let it lead us to repentance and a life of holiness.
As Peter wrote, “Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn!
But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:11-13).
Final Words
In conclusion, God’s longsuffering towards the wicked and His own is a wondrous display of His patience, mercy, and grace. It is a call to repentance, a warning of judgment, and an invitation to a life of holiness and godliness.
As we meditate on this divine attribute, may our hearts be softened, our consciences tenderized, and our lives transformed to reflect the character of our loving and longsuffering God.
Let us strive to be patient and kind towards others, even as God is patient and kind towards us, and let us seek to bring glory to His name in all that we do. For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings” (Hosea 6:6).
