BE PATIENT

By Glen Elliott

The Chinese Bamboo tree shows no appreciable growth for its
first four years. Then, in the fifth year, it shoots up some 50 to 90
feet into the air. This amazing illustration from the natural world
shows the value of patience. Sometimes progress seems
unbearably slow. We might be close to giving up. But then, just
as our hope is fading, our eyes are opened afresh to the wonderful
power of God to keep His promises! There were those about
whom Peter wrote in his second epistle who were mocking God’s
word, saying, “Where is the promise of His coming?” (2 Peter
3:3). They contended that all things continued as they had from
the beginning- that God had never interjected Himself into the
affairs of man. Peter reminded them of the cataclysmic events
which occurred in the days of Noah when God destroyed the
world of the ungodly by means of a world-wide flood. It is in that
context that Peter describes the patience of God, saying, “But do
not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the
Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like
one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count
slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish
but for all to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:8-9). The patience
of God is intended to lead us to repentance. Just because the
present universe remains even after all these centuries is no
indication of a lack of resolve on His part. God will keep His
promise. The “day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which
the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be
destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be
burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). Because He will come suddenly and
without warning, we should “regard the patience of the Lord as
salvation” (v. 15). God said, “My word which goes forth from My mouth; it
shall not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what
I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I
sent it” (Isaiah 55:11). God never lies (Hebrews 6:18). We
can rest assured in the promise of Christ’s return. James
used the illustration of a farmer waiting for the produce of
the soil as an example of our need to be patient, saying,
“strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near”
(James 5:8). We should not expect that an infinite, eternal
God should be constrained to operate on our timetable.
While we eagerly await His return (Hebrews 9:28), we join
in the sentiments of the apostle John who prayed, “Even
so, come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).