Paul was known to be the greatest enemy of God and he was dedicated to the persecution of the early disciples of Jesus in the area of Jerusalem. It was not until his journey to Damascus when a light from heaven flashed about him and he heard a voice: "Saul, Saul (Hebrew name of Paul), why do you persecute me?" Paul was temporarily blinded but was healed by a Christian named Ananias. Thereafter, Paul was zealous to proclaim the gospel of God.
Paul came to the realization of how great a sinner he was and he considered himself as the worst. The closer one gets to a holy God, the more the magnitude of one's sin becomes evident. The Bible itself is already trustworthy but yet Paul emphasized that "Here is a full trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance.." Paul experienced the abundant grace of God to save and use a wreck like him, it is trustworthy for Paul sank in the sea of grace himself. He is preaching from his experience.
Jesus came not to save the righteousness but the sinners. The sick needs doctor, but not the healthy ones. That is the analogy but none in this world is sinless so Jesus died once for ALL. God is a patient God. His patience has often caused our hesitant, doubt and frustration, as how we misunderstand His perfect timing. Yet God is still as cool as cucumber waiting for the moment to come. God's patience is desiring to see the sinking wicked world to come to know Him personally and receive the eternal life promised. Yet, they are just too many who choose to indulge in the sinful pattern of life and strive for the temporary satisfaction and happiness of life.
In the recent event that brought the whole earth to an attention, Harold Camping at his age of 89 wrongly predicted the rapture and the coming of Jesus. The move alone has been harshly criticized by many believers and now should have caused more to mock him, and God. The return of Jesus might now be a laughing stock among the non-believers or those who are ignorant. Harold Camping might be all wrong and he might have prayed so hard to a rapture to take place on the 21st of May as he woke up to the morning while the sun stood still, but he got his point there. "Jesus is coming."
Reproach aside, Harold brought an important reminder to the whole world that even though the rapture did not happen as he predicted, Jesus will still return in His glory, fullness, splendour and judgment one day. That is the truth and fact, just that no one knows when it will happen. Somehow we should be grateful for people like Harold. I believe if Jesus returns as predicted, Hell will be relatively jammed in comparison to Heaven.
Our God is a God full of patience. He has been giving ample time for the lost to be found and the wrong to get back on track as the gospel is spread.
In 2 Peter 3:9 it says "The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."
God is giving us time and calling us back to Him. Are we responding or we just choose to be reluctant and ignorant?
Oh awake my soul!
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