THERE are three of God’s favors which unwary man is prone to overlook, if not to despise; and these are, first, His goodness; second, His forbearance; and last, His long-suffering.
And yet every one of us is the object of all three!
We are kind, generally, to our friends, sometimes to our needy neighbors, but kindness to an enemy is, amongst men, unknown: it would be a contradiction in terms; it would mean that enmity was thereby overcome and reconciliation effected.
Man knows nothing of this, but God, blessed be His name, is kind to those who hate and disobey Him. His kindness is therefore peculiar. He hates sin; He will judge all evil; but He is kind to the sinner whilst his day of grace continues.
Hence the natural idea that God is “hard reaping where he has not sown, and gathering where he has not strawed,” is absolutely wrong. The reverse is the case. Alas, that we should think and feel otherwise, “God is love,” and the certain outcome of this is His kindness, His forbearance, and His long-suffering!
Think, first, dear reader, how kind God has been to you. In a thousand ways He has shown you kindness, and if you would attempt to number His benefits you could not do so.
Think, secondly, how He has forborne with you―He has warded off a thousand ills that might have come to you. His love is thus not only positive in the bestowal of kindness, but negative in screening you from many a sorrow.
And, thirdly, think how long He has suffered your ways! Year after year tells its tale of provocation on your part, and of patience on His― such patience! Sins committed, mercies slighted, warnings disregarded, calls rejected, and yet patience waiting!
If you would but form these three words into a mirror, and gaze upon them, you would see sufficient in your own heart to produce self-loathing.
This is the great secret. God’s wonderful goodness―His kindness―leads to repentance. It melts; it breaks down; it wins; it keeps.
As limestone is slaked by water, so the hard and flinty heart is subdued by love.
Long ago, when I wished to collect an outside audience, at a time, I think, when men seemed to listen more eagerly than now to the story of God’s salvation, I was fond of singing this verse of a hymn―
“Shall I tell you what induced me
For the better land to start
‘Twas the Saviour’s loving-kindness
Overcame and won my heart.”
The hymn is old, but worthy of preservation, and that verse formed a good text for the truth I desired to present.
And many a crowd it gathered who afterward heard of the loving-kindness that proved itself in death, unto the saving of a poor vile sinner, and the winning of his heart for heaven! A Saviour’s loving-kindness How lovely!
Ah, friend, there’s nothing like love, and it is just what we need. It is a rare quality here. Plenty of hatred and strife and bitterness, but little deep, genuine, lasting love!
No, but there is plenty of it where least expected.
“Nobody ever told me,” said the dying gipsy boy, on hearing, for the first time, that “God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16))
He had never been told, and certainly he would never have thought of it; but it is divinely true that God loved and gave―so that we may believe and have! How simple, how glorious!
Now, I know quite well that man can and will turn the grace of God into lasciviousness, and pervert His kindness and forbearance until he thinks that God’s long-suffering is indifference, and that sin is nothing to Him. He shall yet learn otherwise; but I am persuaded that the grand truth to be proclaimed is the love of God in the gift of His Son. His kindness leads to repentance and His love attracts the heart. But can the heart thus be won? Most certainly!
Is there aught in the sinner that responds to God? Not a particle! He hates God in the innermost recess of his being.
Then, why address him? Simply because the divine command is to “preach the good news to every, creature.” “To you is the word of this salvation sent,” said Paul in Acts 13:2626Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. (Acts 13:26). He preached, like Ezekiel, to bones that were very dry, and left the life-giving power with God, to whom alone that prerogative belonged.
And life was given, and hearts were won, and souls were saved, and the God of grace glorified.
We may well shut our eyes to man, and go in the full assurance of God’s love for, and interest in the sinner, and count on His Spirit working, and his goodness leading men to repentance.
Hence, friend, despise not His goodness and forbearance and long-suffering! You could be guilty of no greater sin! J. W. S.