“When you finish reading this book, tie a stone to it and cast it into the midst of the Euphrates, and say, ‘Thus shall Babylon sink, to rise no more, because of the disaster that I am bringing upon her, and they shall become exhausted.’” – Jeremiah 51:63-64
The timing of God’s detailed prophecy and promise of Babylon’s destruction is fascinating…. It came in the fourth year of king Zedekiah of Judah. In other words, Babylon hadn’t yet destroyed Jerusalem. It had been oppressing Judah for quite some time and had already taken the best and brightest citizens into exile. Nonetheless, it would be seven more years before Babylon would destroy Jerusalem altogether. It would be decades before the prophecy Jeremiah sent to Babylon would be fulfilled with its destruction by the Medo-Persian Empire.
That’s how God is. Time is dramatically different for Him than it is for us. He sees and hold all of time in His hand: past, present, and future. He is sovereign over it all. What lies decades or centuries in the future is already completely certain and accomplished from His perspective. Therefore, God is extremely, perfectly patient. Patient that more people would have the opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel and be saved. Patient for believers to mature in Christ. Patient to allow others to dig themselves into still deeper pits of sin before answering for their sins.
On the other hand, we have cultivated impatience. It’s in our nature and our nurture. Impatience isn’t of God. Indeed, part of the Fruit of the Spirit Who lives in every believer is patience. The closer you walk to Jesus, the more patient you become. Not passive. Not lazy. Patient. Like the Lord.
If you’re a Christian but have no patience, something needs work in your spiritual life. Draw nearer to God in unhurried prayer and meditation on Scripture. Spend more time with Jesus in worship. Sit at His feet with no agenda and no rush to get on with the next thing. Allow yourself to be filled with the Holy Spirit and expect that through Him, you will grow more patient, just like your Lord. #FollowJesus