Have you ever considered what happens “when God’s patience runs out?” As you study the Bible, one of God’s beautiful characteristics is His love for humanity and His desire that all people turn from their sins to Him and be saved. 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.[1]
Because the Lord loves us so much, He is very patient with people who do not know or are rebellious. However, we can’t confuse the Lord’s patience with a God who has limits. The Lord gave the people many years to repent in the days of Noah, as Noah was proclaiming God’s Word as He built the ark. When people failed to turn from their sins, the Lord brought a great flood and destroyed everyone but Noah and his family. The best time to turn to the Lord is when the Holy Spirit stirs in our hearts to confess our sins and not wait too long.
The Religious Leaders Tested the Lord’s Patience
It was always the Lord’s desire that the religious leaders in Israel would turn to Him, and there would be a great revival and transformation in their hearts. If this would have happened, think how that would have impacted the nation of Israel. Jesus traveled to Jerusalem during the last week of His ministry to die for our sins on the cross and to teach and give the religious leaders one more opportunity to come to Him.
During Jesus’ ministry, there was an ongoing battle between the religious leaders and Jesus. These religious leaders seemed more concerned with political power and money than the people they were called to serve. As Jesus spoke to the religious leaders, He told them a parable about a vineyard and the wicked farmers who cared for it. Because of the wicked farmer’s greed, they killed the owner’s servants. The owner then sent his son, thinking they would respect him, but they killed him, too.
The religious leaders realized they were the wicked farmers in the parable, but instead of repenting, they wanted to arrest Jesus and kill him. At this point, the Lord’s patience ran out, and He said, Matthew 21:43 I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit.”[2]
God is Waiting Patiently Today for People to Repent
After years of rebellion, one of my school friends suddenly repented in his mid-fifties. He was so happy the Lord extended His grace to him. He was overjoyed, and his life has changed since that day.
Today, the Lord is patiently waiting for people to turn from their sins and turn to Him. But His patience will eventually run out. If you sense the Holy Spirit is leading you to turn to the Lord in faith, press into the Lord and confess your sins. Our Lord is a loving God who desires to forgive and transform us in ways that will change your life today and in eternity.
To learn more about when God’s patience runs out, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/parable-of-the-tenants
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (2 Pe 3:9). Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Mt 21:43). Tyndale House Publishers.