But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, PATIENCE, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Galatians 5: 22-23a 

I really believe that when the Holy Spirit was pouring out His special gifts on each of us, the patience urn must have been running just about empty when He came to me. The word patient has seldom, if ever, been used to describe my attitude toward life. I’m one of those people who asks God to give me patience and give it to me right now. Well, figuratively anyway…I’m not sure I’ve really said it, but He certainly got my intent.

But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently. Romans 8:25

A couple of weeks ago, we talked about Noah, principally from the perspective of joy. This week let’s consider the task that loomed before him. First, he had to wrap his head around the prediction that God was going to create a flood so immense that it would destroy the entire earth. Secondly, his family had been chosen to survive this catastrophe alongside two of every kind of animal and bird known to man at that time. Then, he had to face the enormity of his responsibility and, of course, he had to be very certain that he had gotten the specifications right for the ark that God had instructed his family to build. The Bible leaves no doubt as to the dimensions or materials used in this ark. There surely must have been doubts, questions, and disagreements between the family members during the building process. Does this sound anything like the major construction projects around your house?

 

Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. Ephesians 4:2

Most scholars who have studied the timing of the event and the ages of the participants believe the ark took between fifty-five and seventy-five years to build. Now consider all the ridicule Noah and his family endured during those long years of construction as they created a massive floating barn that rested on dry ground. Does it appear that Noah may have been a very patient man?

Next, we picture Noah and his wife, their two sons and their wives, living captive in the midst of this floating menagerie for over a year. The lack of fresh air, very cold temperatures, and then very hot. What was the origin of the drinking water and food they consumed? They couldn’t have carried enough to last that long so where did it come from? How in the world could they have resolved the countless disagreements that would have risen within their animal charges and even themselves? Once again, I believe patience reigned, because without it that ark would have been uncontrolled chaos! Even their grand adventure to re-establish human habitation on the earth once the waters receded would have taxed their patience and endurance to the very limit.

The silver lining to this story is that through Noah and his family, God had offered humanity another chance, a “do-over”, so to speak. Even though He would have wanted us to get it right the second time around, he knew the weakness of humanity. He knew we would stumble and fall and fail miserably. And of course, we’ve acted exactly as He anticipated. I’d say God, himself, is an exercise in patience we can’t begin to comprehend.

But even after all we’ve done to mess up His beautiful creation, He still offers us a clear path to redemption. We don’t know how long His patience will last, but we do know He promised a second coming of Christ, unlike anything we’ve ever seen. I’m glad my name’s recorded in the Lamb’s Book of Life. And I’ll try to be patient until He gets here. How’s your patience meter gauging the way you’re responding to the world around you and, more importantly, how you’re responding to God’s plan for your life?

Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. Psalm 27:14