“I want a little patience please and I want it now!” So goes the old humorous expression a very dear friend of mine barks out from time to time . . .
Patience . . . It’s the one thing that I think most all of us can safely say that we usually lack at least at some point during the day. Indeed, my children will tell you that given the right set of circumstances I can be a VERY impatient person at times. This is often expressed with a phrase I learned from one of my old football coaches – Stan Cummer – who would say, “C’mon! What you waitin’ on?! A telegram?!!” I guess the modern version would be something like, “C’mon! What are you waitin’ on?! A Facebook post?!!”
In any event whenever Stan barked this out with my name in it – accentuated by another favorite expression “Cheese and crackers!” As in “Cheese and Crackers Revercomb! I mean C’mon!! What are you waitin’ on?! A telegram?!” I knew I had better get it in gear or a swift kick to the buttocks was coming right behind it.
Coaches had different ways of motivating us back in those days . . . and they were very effective.
But back to the concept of patience. True to my children’s charges, I AM often a very impatient person – your Session will probably agree with this as well. I try to hold my breath and allow the needed time for things to go the way they need to during certain debates but I am not always successful at it. Better than I used to be – but not always.
How about you? Are you trending towards being MORE patient or LESS patient as you move along life’s often less than perfectly planned path?
Our Old Testament reading is a call to repentance amidst words that are reminding God what He has done for His people and what He WILL DO for those who “turn around” (which is what the word repentance means) and seek His redemption:
1 LORD, you were favorable to your land;
you restored the fortunes of Jacob.
2 You forgave the iniquity of your people;
you pardoned all their sin.
8 Let me hear what God the LORD will speak,
for he will speak peace to his people,
to his faithful, to those who turn to him in their hearts.
This is a very affirming line of scripture but every sinner – that is you and me – should note that it requires action on our parts – we must TURN, as in a “reorienting” of our selves – our purposes – our lives . . . You might say that both that verse and “new life” turn on the word turn.
Then having issued this reminder and confident promise that God will respond to our “turning,” the verse subtly points towards the coming of Christ:
9 Surely his salvation is at hand for those who fear him,
that his glory may dwell in our land.
10 Steadfast love and faithfulness will meet;
righteousness and peace will kiss each other.
11 Faithfulness will spring up from the ground,
and righteousness will look down from the sky.
But there is an element of waiting here isn’t there – of a need for patience, as God’s will is effected in His time and in His way:
12 The LORD will give what is good,
and our land will yield its increase. (As in ultimately so – if we but wait upon him.)
13 Righteousness will go before him,
and will make a path for his steps.
“Righteousness will go before him” – this phrase is instructional on two levels. As in this is a fact: “Righteousness” – in some form – will proceed the coming of God’s forgiveness and salvation. Now at the time these words were spoken and written by the psalmist the people likely had no idea that they were referencing both a truth about God’s goodness as well as the foreshadowing of an event that was the coming of John the Baptist with his call for a “Baptism of Repentance” – ahead of the “Word made flesh” that is Jesus The Christ. Which is declared in scripture (Mark 1) to be the very “beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
Which leads us to the second level of what the Psalmist is declaring – that we are going to have to have patience ourselves – even in the coming of salvation – as God works out HIS way in the world – that in this case, righteousness must proceed the coming of His living Word made flesh which is of course the coming of Jesus.
And perhaps not so surprising, if we really think about it, is the truth that our PERSONAL acceptance of salvation must also be preceded by the same things – repentance (a turning – a reorienting – towards God) followed by righteousness that must be lived out (righteous living) so that Jesus CAN come and truly (by God’s grace) DWELL in our hearts.
Indeed, to expect God’s plan for salvation to be effected in your life in any other way is “fool’s gold.” It may look like it. It may act like it. It may even at times feel like it . . . But when put to the test . . . When life’s trials come . . . When things “heat up” – real and genuine faith legitimately born of humbleness, sincerity and truth will stand – but that which was feigned and not TRULY sought in repentance and righteousness will not stand.
It’s interesting to note relative to the theological example I have used that, in reality, when heated pure gold gives off no gases or fumes. It does not smell in any way. Fool’s Gold, however, releases sulfuric compounds and smells like rotten eggs. So – it’s a pretty good example. It also reminds me of one of my favorite C.S. Lewis quotes: “We are all very much like eggs at present . . . And you cannot go on indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg . . . We must be hatched – or go bad.” (Jack always goes right to the heart of things doesn’t he.)
While our first reading subtly points towards the need for patience in the coming of salvation, our second reading from Second Peter hits us over the head with it and declares that we should regard the patience of our Lord as salvation itself! Hear now the word of the Lord:
SECOND READING 2 PETER 3:8-15A
8But do not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like one day. 9The Lord is not slow about his promise, as some think of slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish, but all to come to repentance. 10But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a loud noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and everything that is done on it will be disclosed.
11Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, 12waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set ablaze and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire? 13But, in accordance with his promise, we wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home.
14Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish; 15aand regard the patience of our Lord as salvation.
So Peter seems to be saying that God’s “slowness” is actually (in reality) him being patient with us – that God is waiting on US – to turn around and seek HIM. (There is that old repentance theme again!) And that we too must be patient with God in return. As we seek to work out our salvation in fear and trembling – as Paul said we must.
And then, what follows this affirmation of God’s love that would wait on us to turn towards Him? Just like the psalmist! A call to righteousness!
“Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be? Lead lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for the coming of the day of God . . .” That, “in accordance with his promise, we are to wait for new heavens and a new earth, where righteousness is at home!” Where we, in our righteousness (as gifted by the grace of God in Jesus Christ) can meet God in His righteousness – that place where “righteousness is at home!”
Therefore, beloved, while you are waiting for these things, strive to be found by him at peace, without spot or blemish,” Mark says, “and regard the patience of our Lord as salvation [itself.]”
Goodness. Do you think we have a lot to be thankful for in the patience that God shows us? And in turn do you think it’s important to be patient ourselves with others – that patience as “Holy Script” to be paid might be a really important and critical component of repentance, righteousness and the receiving of salvation?
“Cheese and crackers Revercomb! What are you waiting on – a telegram?!”
Well, sorry coach. In the particulars of not getting around that last lap quite quick enough I’m sure I was delinquent, and being lazy certainly isn’t the way to become physically fit. But when it comes to “spiritual conditioning,” practicing patience – as we seek to act, be and LIVE-OUT the very righteousness of our savior – is indeed one of the keys to being fit for the Kingdom.
For it is patience that forebears the missteps and miscues of another – just as our lord did and does for us . . . It is patience that allows God’s time to become our time – in which His Most Perfect Will is effected . . . And it is Patience in Love – Love that would give itself for us – even unto death on a cross, though Love knew NO sin – Yes, patience in Love – that is Salvation itself.
So yes . . . A little more patience . . . Please.
– Stuart Revercomb
