Bible Reading: Numbers 14:18
God is incredibly patient. He doesn’t become frustrated or angry quickly. Numbers 14:18 tells us, “The LORD is slow to anger, abounding in love and forgiving sin and rebellion.
Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.”
Prior to the flood (Genesis 6-9), God gave the people of earth 120 to stop sinning and come back to God before he finally sent the flood. That’s longer than most of us will live. During that 120 years, they had chance after chance to ask God’s forgiveness and begin living in a way that would make God happy.
At the end of that 120 years, only eight people, Noah, his wife, his sons and their wives had chosen to live for God. Everyone else was punished by death for their choice to continue to live a lifestyle that God disapproved of. None of those who died could honestly say that they didn’t have time to think about God’s command that they turn from their sin and live a godly life. They knew what God expected them to do and they refused to do it. It cost them their lives.
You’ve heard God’s message. You know that you need stop sinning, ask God to forgive you, and start living to please him.
God has great patience. He has waited a long time for your decision. He won’t wait forever. What will your decision be?
“So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him. Bear in mind that our Lord's patience means salvation, just as our dear brother Paul also wrote you with the wisdom that God gave him.” 2 Peter 3:14 & 15
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank You for Your great patience. Please, forgive my sin. In Jesus’ name. Amen.