God's Patience, My Opportunity

Mary's heart was so full of gratitude that she took an expensive perfume and poured it on Jesus' feet and wiped His feet with her hair. One of the disciples of Jesus protested. The Bible says, "Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray Jesus, objected, 'Why wasn't this perfume sold and the money given to the poor?' It was worth a year's wages." (John 12:4-5) The Bible goes on to say in verse 6, "He did not say this because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it." Jesus was well aware of what Judas was doing, so why did He allow Judas to continue to be a disciple and even take care of the money bag? It sounds to me like Jesus is extremely patient with us, giving us every opportunity to repent from our sins and turn to Him.

When people seem to get away with disobedience, it's not a sign of God's approval of wrong behaviour; it's more than likely proof of His love and patience. But without repentance, God's patience will do you no good. Judas continued in the path he was on and didn't repent. In spite of the love Jesus showed him and the patience He had toward him, it did him no good. Judas continued in the path he was on and refused to change. Finally, he betrayed the One who cared for him the most. In the same way, if we continue to disobey God's Word and refuse to turn to Him and ask Him to change us, it will eventually lead to our destruction as well.

Be careful when you see your Christian friends do something you know is wrong and yet they seem to go unpunished by God. This is NOT proof of God's tolerance of sin. Do not follow the path they are on. If you want to have everlasting life with Jesus, you must get your guidance from God's Word, the Bible. Stop looking at your friends to see what you can get away with. Instead, saturate your mind with God's Word and live according to His will for you. Obedience to God's Word does not take away your freedom; it gives you freedom from sin. Sin binds you and holds you trapped. Jesus said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Don't allow God's patience to be wasted on you. He's giving you every opportunity to come to Him so you can experience His peace and joy in this life, and eternity with Him when this life is over.