THE LORD’S LONG WAIT

BY SIMON NDOO

Or despise you the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? Rom. 2:4

The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. Ps. 145:8-9.

Why has not God dealt with you up to date according to your sins?

Because He is gracious, full of compassion, slow to anger, and of great mercy.

Why does He wait for so long before executing judgment?

1. Because He doesn’t desire any to perish: 2 Pet. 3:19 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

2. Because He doesn’t delight in the death of a sinner: Eze. 18:23 “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? says the Lord GOD: and not that he should turn from his ways, and live?”

3. Because He loves the lost, John 3:16-17 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

Therefore in His goodness and mercy, God bears with you, blesses you, spares your life, and gives you opportunities to hear the gospel. He doesn’t terminate your life or deprive you of blessing – he doesn’t deal with you according to your sins.

Wrong conclusions you can come to with respect to the Lord’s long wait.

1. That God does not exist

2. That God is a weakling

3. That God permits sin and evil

This is not so.

What the Lord requires: 1 John 3:23 “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.”

Therefore God waits on you to turn to Him, and shall wait on you for your entire lifetime. But not any longer after you have crossed over from this life to the other.

Therefore, do not despise the riches of his goodness and forbearance and long-suffering; for the goodness of God leads you to repentance.