Patience is a Virtue--Posted 03/04/2006

Scripture tells us in Hebrews 6:13-15, "For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he
sware by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently
endured, he obtained the promise."(emphasis mine)

Abraham was 75 years old when God first promised him a son.(see Genesis 12:2-4)

25 years later his son Isaac was born!(see Genesis 21:5)

At the age of 100 years old Abraham finally received the promise God had spoken to him.

Certainly Abraham never expected to wait 25 years for his promised son. Why would God make him wait that long, especially
considering Abraham was already 75 years old?

Was God playing some cruel joke on Abraham?

Did God have a grudge against him?

Obviously the answer to these questions is NO.

Then why do we often feel this way when we haven't received from God what he has promised to us?

Why do we feel slighted when things do not happen in "our time"?

Scripture stated in Hebrews 6:15, "...after he(Abraham) had patiently endured, he obtained the promise."

AFTER...

or "following" his patient enduring...Abraham received the promise.

Sure he questioned God sometimes...

Yes, Abraham wondered,"what is God thinking..."

Certainly he doubted that he would ever see this thing come to pass...

But, Abraham still waited "with patience".

He "endured"...

This means literally, "to suffer long".

Abraham waited a long time, 25 years, to see God's promise come to pass.

Many people have lost their patience in much less time.

Some folks can't even wait 5 minutes in line at the grocery store without growing impatient.

How often have you heard someone behind you say, "Why don't they just hurry up. This is just ridiculous. Don't they have more
people working here or what?!"

Or, have you said that yourself?

Patience in a "hurry-up" world is almost unheard of. In a society of fast food, microwaves, instant oatmeal, drive-thru everything,
and just about everything else being adapted to satisfy the fast-paced world, there is no time for "patience".

My mother used to say, "Patience is a virtue."

How true that statement is. We must have patience. Look at what James 5:11 says,"Behold, we count them happy which endure.
Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy."

In other words, you remember what Job went through, how he lost everything, how his own wife even despised him. But recall
also that God was still faithful, because of Job's unwavering faith. How Job endured hardship in spite of those who doubted
around him.

This is the kind of "patient enduring" that Paul was writing about in the text in Hebrews 6.

Paul later wrote in Hebrews 10:36, "For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the
promise."(emphasis mine)

Abraham's faith was counted as righteousness unto him. His "enduring in spite of UNBELIEVABLE ODDS" was counted as
acceptable unto God.

Abraham becoming a father at the age of 100 years old, his wife Sarah being 90 years old, was virtually impossible. But God was
fully able to bring his promise to complete fruition.

Nothing that God promises will be left undone!

Right now in your life God is working on your promise.

You may be "getting impatient".

You may be tired of sitting around hoping for an answer.

But, God has a plan.

Psalm 40:1 tells us, "I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry."

David knew the key to having prayer answered.

Waiting PATIENTLY!!!

Isaiah 40:31 says, "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they
shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (emphasis mine)

Being able to "endure without complaining" is what patience is all about.

That is what will bring about God's promises in your life.

And the most desirable promise from God is His promise of salvation, being "saved" from eternal punishment in Hell. That is one
promise you will not have to "wait for".

II Corinthians 6:2 says,"...behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation.)”  (emphasis mine)