CHAPTER 5

"Patience"

January 1, 2005 – it’s funny how time passes so quickly. Two days ago we had about 25 teenagers from Andrea’s youth group at church, come to our house to do yard work and housework. Then they came up to Andrea’s room to see her, talk to her, sing to her and pray for her. That was truly a blessing! However, I couldn’t help but look at each of them and think about how quickly they grow. Each young person at FHCS, TCS, FHBC and CBC is a miracle from God. They grow up so fast it is uncanny. And they are growing up in a crazy, bent-on-destruction world. Yet, each of them and each of us tend to live a Que Sera, Sera style life. Only at key moments do we tend to evaluate the “true meaning of life” and make life-changing decisions. Teens and adults alike live for the moment more than for eternity. For most of us it takes an emotion tingling message or a tragedy to cause any kind of deep introspection.

How strange we are. How strange I am! It’s not that I don’t read my Bible and pray and seek to please the Lord when things are going smooth. But trials for some reason just get a hold of my attention in a deeper more intense way.

James 1:2-7  My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. ⁵If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; ⁸he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

The word patience has become a dreaded concept in the church. Who wants to learn patience? However, this word means more than just waiting for something. It can also be translated perseverance or endurance. The idea is that of being toughened up for battle or competition. Life is tough. As we approach the end times it will most likely get even tougher. As things wax worse and worse in this sin sick world believers are going to need a heavy dose of endurance, perseverance and patience to maintain a strong witness and influence.

Just how strong is our faith? What would it take for me to cut and run? What exactly does the Lord want to strengthen me to be able to endure? It may come to persecution but we don’t know if we as Americans will definitely suffer beatings and prison for Christ. I believe that God is preparing me for something I face every day, in the here and now. I think the Lord is using this trial to prepare the Pender’s and all our friends and loved ones for something more immediate.

What exactly do I need to change in my life that is pertinent to these last days in which I live? 2Tim.3:1-5 But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: ²For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, ³unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, ⁴traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, ⁵having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away!

Ouch! I always thought this list was to be used to identify the unbelievers in the end times. As I slowly go down the list and do some serious introspection I have some problems of my own.

1.      lovers of themselves – how often do I think of myself before I think of someone else? I have taught the neat little acronym for joy (J – Jesus 1^st, O – others 2^nd, & Y – yourself last). I’ve got some work to do here.

2.      lovers of money – I don’t have much of it but what I do have tends to have much of me. I struggle with materialism and use the excuse that so does every other US citizen.

3.      boasters – sure there are other Christians that are bigger braggers than me, but I love to toot my own horn.

4.      proud – and even if I don’t demonstrate it by bragging, I struggle with my own arrogance on the inside.

5.      blasphemers – what is this word? Webster says it means the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God. I don’t use His name in vain. But I know I show a lack of reverence for God at times. Strong’s Lexicon says it means speaking evil, slanderous, reproachful, railing, abusive. When I blame God I in essence accuse Him of sin, which is blasphemy.

6.      disobedient to parents – well at least I don’t do this any more.

7.      unthankful – I know I can be more thankful.

8.      unholy – when I do any of the above I am unholy (not set apart for His glory and service)

9.      unloving – woo, is this a broad category. I can’t hardly bear to think about how many times I am unloving.

10.  unforgiving – Rick Warren says forgiving and trusting are two different things. Forgiveness should be granted immediately and consistently. Trust must be earned. I have certainly required people to earn my forgiveness and that is wrong.

11.  slanderers – the old KJV translates this Greek word false accusers but the word actually has more to do with impugning someone’s character even if what is said is the truth. Yikes! That means talking about someone to make him or her look bad even if they are.

12.  without self-control – blurting out the first thing that comes to my mind, eating too much, too much TV, etc.

13.  brutal - not tame, savage, fierce. ALL RIGHT! I’m not brutal.

14.  despisers of good – literally opposed to goodness and good men. I’ve struggled with being opposed to other believers with a different perspective than mine about non-essential issues. I need to appreciate everybody who is doing anything worthwhile for the Lord.

15.  traitors – not being loyal.

16.  headstrong – or reckless; I definitely have times of being reckless.

17.  haughty – the third time Paul mentions the sin of pride in this list. But this word deals more with attitude than does boasting and pride.

18.  lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God – notice the word rather. The idea is that when this person is put in a situation to choose between what would please God and what would please self they choose self. What is my first thought before indulgence? Does God come first all the time?

19.  having a form of godliness but denying its power – in other words faking spirituality. Oh my! What Christian doesn’t struggle with pretending they are always right with and close to God when they are around other Christians? Why can’t I remove the mask and admit when I’m not where I need to be spiritually?

I have told many lost people that in order for them to get saved they must first admit that they are lost. Well, back at ya Larry. In order to get to the next level in my spiritual life I must admit that I’m not there yet. I still have a ways to go. 

If this trial has taught me anything it has taught me to live for the Lord on purpose. It has taught me that life is just too short and too vulnerable to waste any opportunity or moment to live for God’s glory. I will continue to fail and struggle with my flesh. But I want the Lord to finish the work He started here and toughen me up. Dear Father, make me a stronger Christian. Give me the spiritual strength to endure all temptation and testing that life throws at me. Use my life to glorify your Son!