Got Patience?

             I begin today with a confession:  I am not a patient person.  Patience has never been one of my virtues, but God has been working on me in that area and I have seen some improvement.  This morning was a test.

            After a routine doctor’s appointment for which I had to fast, I decided to treat myself to my favorite breakfast food, McDonald’s sausage and egg burritos.  I pulled into the drive-through, delighted to see that the line was relatively short.  I moved through the ordering process very quickly and the line kept moving steadily until it didn’t.  As I approached the pay window, the truck in front of me sat there and sat there and sat there.  Cars were backing up behind me, and even though the sign clearly said, “Have your payment ready”, it was obvious that he did not.  After a few minutes, I began to wonder if he had any money at all.  Finally, after about five minutes he handed the cashier some money.  Since it took the cashier several more minutes to come back with his change, I assume it was a large bill.  Finally, we were able to move forward. 

            I paid quickly and moved to the pick-up window, only to find the same man, now having issues with his order.  They gave him one bag, then took it back.  A few minutes later, they gave him two drinks and then, finally, another bag.  Slowly, he began to move on.  Now mind you, I didn’t honk or say or do anything inappropriate, but my patience was challenged, plus I was getting hungrier by the minute.  My main thought was why can’t people realize that they are inconveniencing other people.

            As I thought about my lack of patience with that man, I was also prompted to consider whether God ever gets impatient.  We know from Scripture that He is “slow to anger” (Exodus 34:6) and that His patience is what delays the return of Christ because He does not want anyone to perish (II Peter 3:9).  Paul even describes God as patient in Romans 2: 4.  Patience is also one of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22, as we strive to be more like Christ.

            However, God’s patience is not without end.  Consider the Israelites who found themselves wandering in the desert for forty years because God’s patience had been worn thin by their incessant whining, unfaithfulness, and disbelief.  Jesus also grew impatient with the money changers in the Temple, who were defiling His Father’s House, and they suddenly found themselves thrown out without a second thought.  In Romans 1, Paul makes it very clear that when we turn our backs on God, deny His power and authority, and wallow in sin, there will be an end to His patience. 

            Little things like a man taking too long in the drive-through line don’t even warrant a second thought in God’s mind.  He loves us so much that He puts up with a lot from each one of us, every day, waiting for us to repent and turn back toward Him.  However, make no mistake; there is a limit to His patience.  One day, perhaps sooner than we might think, His patience will be exhausted.  When that day comes, Christ will return, and those who do not know Christ as Savior will endure an eternity of God’s wrath like never before.

            I’m so thankful that Christ is my Savior, and God has shown me patience time and again.  If you don’t know Him, take the time to meet Him personally.  His patience will overwhelm you, but don’t take too long to make that decision, because there will one day be an end to even God’s patience.

Psalm 86: 15

II Peter 3:9

Numbers 14: 1 - 25