The Patience of God · Ladder to Heaven

At the outset, it is prudent to note that God cannot be contained by space or time. Hence, the patience of God cannot be measured by the same yardstick. His goodness and divine love may measure his patience. Patience is part of God’s perfect character and divine attribute; as such, we need to express gratitude for His patience, failing which we would be nowhere. God’s patience is magnificent and matchless, a fact that cannot be unravelled by the human mind. When we study His patience in Scripture, we begin to understand not only how extraordinary it is, but, at the same time, it is also limitless. God is never said to be patient about things or circumstances, because He knows all things. He knows the beginning from the end. He is thus above all these things and is not limited by that kind of patience. God’s patience is astonishing. Sin is abhorrent to God. The One who is greatly offended by sin still, in the interest of mankind being saved, chooses to exhibit great patience, and we see this patience exhibited throughout both the Testaments and in the lives of people today. Thus, God is long-suffering towards people. Patience is used in the Scriptures in varied ways. In Nahum 1:3, the prophet says God is “slow to anger”—greatly patient—yet He “will not leave the guilty unpunished.” In other words, His justice cannot be compromised. God will always punish wickedness, but in His own time. The concept “slow to anger” means He shows restraint. The word used for Christ’s patience in II Thessalonians 3:5 is “steadfastness,” or in some versions, “perseverance,” but it is translated elsewhere as “patient endurance.” God showed great patience, even from the beginning of time. He was patient when Adam and Eve sinned. He removed them from the Garden of Eden for their sin, He covered their nakedness and shame, and He promised a saviour would someday come. God was patient with the people at the time of Noah. Genesis 6:5 “And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.” The Lord repented that He had made man. Despite this, His patience did not wear out, and He gave time to man to repent. Although it is not recorded in the Bible, before the great Judgement of destroying man by flood, Noah preached for almost a hundred years for man to repent. I Peter 3:20 “Which sometime were disobedient, when once the longsuffering of God waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was a preparing, wherein few, that is, eight souls were saved by water.” God was so patient with His people, Israel. He mercifully and repeatedly forgave and did not destroy them. Psalm 78:38 “But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.” Even today, the Lord is patient with us and is waiting for us to repent and come to Him. It is for this reason that the second coming of Jesus is being delayed. There, however, is a limit to the patience of God. That’s when the Lord will come in the clouds of heaven. This marks His limit for patience. Everything must come to an end. Thus, the concept of "the patience of God” is a profound biblical theme, highlighting His mercy, graciousness, and purposeful delay in judgment to allow time for people to repent. Ultimately, God's patience is depicted as an active, loving restraint offering opportunities for salvation. Dr Ashwin Drummond laddertoheaven.co.in