God is
patient. We can all be thankful for that. We, too, need to be
patient. Noah patiently worked on the ark for 120 years without the
slightest evidence that what God said was going to come true. There
isn't even any evidence that God spoke to him again during that time
period. Can you imagine the ridicule he lived with?
"God's going to send rain and flood the entire earth."
"He's going to do what? Rain? What in the world is rain? Flood the entire earth? Sure, Noah, whatever you say."
"He's going to destroy those who won't repent of their evil ways. No one will escape."
"That's what you told us 100 years ago you old fool. Not one thing has happened to suggest that you are telling the truth."
They weren't just ridiculing Noah; they were mocking God. I wonder if there were any misgivings when the animals started showing up in pairs and going into the ark? Or when Noah took his family in and God shut the door. And then--the storm. But it was too late then. The patience of God had run out. It will again one day.
But what about Noah? The writer of Hebrews put it this way: "By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith." What does that tell us about patient obedience? Only faith can supply it. It is strengthened by a reverence for God--a fear of the Lord. It saves--and condemns. It's a truth we hesitate to embrace, but God is just as glorified when He judges evil as He is when He bestows grace. And one more thing. All of Noah's patient obedience didn't change one person's mind about their sin and their attitude toward God. Don't think that yours will automatically do so either. Nor that such a refusal excuses you from showing patience and being obedient. We must let patience have its perfect work in us. Having people respond to our patience and testimony is their business--and one day, God's.
"God's going to send rain and flood the entire earth."
"He's going to do what? Rain? What in the world is rain? Flood the entire earth? Sure, Noah, whatever you say."
"He's going to destroy those who won't repent of their evil ways. No one will escape."
"That's what you told us 100 years ago you old fool. Not one thing has happened to suggest that you are telling the truth."
They weren't just ridiculing Noah; they were mocking God. I wonder if there were any misgivings when the animals started showing up in pairs and going into the ark? Or when Noah took his family in and God shut the door. And then--the storm. But it was too late then. The patience of God had run out. It will again one day.
But what about Noah? The writer of Hebrews put it this way: "By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith." What does that tell us about patient obedience? Only faith can supply it. It is strengthened by a reverence for God--a fear of the Lord. It saves--and condemns. It's a truth we hesitate to embrace, but God is just as glorified when He judges evil as He is when He bestows grace. And one more thing. All of Noah's patient obedience didn't change one person's mind about their sin and their attitude toward God. Don't think that yours will automatically do so either. Nor that such a refusal excuses you from showing patience and being obedient. We must let patience have its perfect work in us. Having people respond to our patience and testimony is their business--and one day, God's.
No comments:
Post a Comment