God is a patient God. The Bible chronicles God's patience over and over again. Exodus 34:6 says, "Yahweh, Yahweh, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness."
Scripture Focus: Genesis 6:3, 5-7; 2 Peter 3:9
"Then the LORD said, 'My Spirit shall not strive with man forever.'"
"Then the LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually... The LORD said, 'I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land.'"
Children learn the story of Noah. There are pictures of animals, rainbows, boats, oceans, doves, pigeons. But rarely included is that the entire world is drowning save eight people because they had rejected God and rushed headlong into corruption and wickedness.
How long did it take Noah to build the ark? Roughly a century. And what was he doing during that time? He was preaching. He was preaching repentance. He was telling people to repent, to turn from their wicked ways, to turn to God.
Second 100 years, Noah is preaching: "Turn from your sin. Turn from your sin."
God is oh so patient.
But do you know what? God's patience does not last forever.
Throughout Scripture, Jesus pleads with people. John 8:21, 24: "I go away, and you will seek Me, and will die in your sin; where I am going, you cannot come... Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."
He's saying, "Don't die in your sins. Don't die in your sins." Listen—His same words ring through the halls of eternity and history to this present moment as He speaks through His Word: "Don't die in your sins."
He's patient. He's forbearing. He's so patient.
But do you know what? God's patience does not last forever.
Hell is very real. It's full of darkness. And so sadly, hell is full of people that planned on turning to Christ. It's full of people that abused God's patience.
A lifetime goes by in the blink of an eye, doesn't it? Sure does.
1. Are you abusing God's patience today—planning to turn to Christ "someday" but not today?
2. Do you understand that God's patience, though great, has an end point?
3. What would change in your life if you truly believed that "a lifetime goes by in the blink of an eye"?
Stay dialed in