THE Lord “is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” So does the Spirit, through the apostle Peter, testify, and this gracious testimony of His long-suffering runs through the record of God’s ways with man from the first.
When the wickedness of man had reached to such a height that “it repented the Lord that He had made man on the earth,” He still sent the warning to forsake evil, for Noah was “a preacher of righteousness;” and in those dark days God, though saying His Spirit should not always strive with man, waited in long-suffering “while the ark was a preparing.” Thus were “120 years” given to men before the flood, but in vain, for, when at length it came, it swept them all away.
Sodom and Gomorrah had their warnings, for “just Lot” was a messenger among them―a poor messenger of the holy God, it is true―but nevertheless a testimony to the sinners of Sodom.
We look at Israel and behold God’s long-suffering in its tenderest character. God had “nourished and brought up children, but they had rebelled” against Him. Messenger after messenger did He send them, warning them not to do the abominable thing that He hates, but His messengers were despised and His prophets persecuted or slain. Thus did long years pass by—God beseeching, man refusing mercy. And at length, when Israel lay stricken and perishing because of their sins, even then did the Lord bid Ezekiel, “Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
The Bible opens out to us a succession of gracious stories of God’s long-suffering wit! sinful men.
And to this day our God is the same. He deals with individuals in long-suffering love. How many years has He borne with us individually! We heeded none of His counsel, and would none of His reproof, but He was “long-suffering to us-ward,” and at length He subdued the proud heart, and brought the rebel sinner to His feet. Hence the Christian is a living witness to the unrepentant of God’s exceeding kindness and forbearance, and can out of his heart’s own experience appeal to the sinner to turn from his evil ways.
“Why will you die?” Why will you choose death before life? Why will you harden your heart against God’s tender love? Shall the gift of His own Son remain as nothing to you? Shall the wounds and sufferings of His Son have no voice to your heart? He died the Just for the unjust, to bring us to God will you despise His death? Is this life worth more than everlasting life? Is this world’s wealth a richer prize than riches toward God? Have you an arm like God? Can you brave His anger? Beware, sinner! for as the longest summer’s day must have it; end, so will this your day of opportunity be eventually no more. But if you will refuse God’s pardon and mercy, remember there is no back door to heaven. There is no way of escape, save the way God has made, now mercy may be yours; but if you refuse His voice, and so die, you will never hear mercy’s voice to you through all eternity. The door of mercy now stands wide open, and you may enter in; but presently it will be shut, and when the night comes it will be everlasting darkness—without hope, without escape.