DIVINE LONGSUFFERING
C. H. Heale
2 Peter 3: 1–4 (to “coming”), 9–10; 1 Thessalonians 5: 4–7
The scripture in Peter came to me as we sang our hymn together, and what grace it is, dear brethren, that we are assured that “the Lord does not delay his promise, as some account of delay”. We have the prospect of the. Lord’s coming, and what Peter writes is to encourage the saints, to be stirred up, to have our pure minds stirred up by way of remembrance of all that has been spoken before. We think of the words of Holy Scripture, that we might have encouragement from the Scriptures (see Romans 15: 4) and from all the legacy of speaking by the Spirit that has come down to us.
So we tonight, through grace, are among those who are confident of the coming of our Lord Jesus, and that it is very near. We disassociate ourselves completely from the spirit of mocking that marked some in the days of Peter and without doubt in our days, “Where is the promise of his coming?” Well, we are assured, dear brethren, of that promise, “The Lord does not delay his promise”. He is “longsuffering towards you, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”. We can say with depth of feeling that the Lord has been longsuffering towards us. As we review the history of the past years—not to be occupied with it, as we have said, but to learn from it—how longsuffering the Lord has been towards us, that we should not perish in relation to the testimony. How many of our brethren have perished, because they have not been maintained in the gain of the reality of the promise of the Lord, that He will not delay.
If we get slack as to the reality of this promise there will be deterioration with us and we will allow all kinds of things. I speak feelingly, brethren, as knowing something of my own heart.
But how gracious the Lord has been to us—longsuffering towards us not willing that any should perish! I would give that a present application to the experience that we have been through; that we have been brought through to this present time is all due to the Lord’s longsuffering towards us.
But even if there has been deflection, there is still the way open to recovery by way of repentance, “but that all should come to repentance”. I know this is often, and rightly, given a gospel application, but I am applying it to the Lord’s gracious dealings with us, and His faithfulness towards us. So we are not those who will be overtaken. The apostle Paul says to the Thessalonians, “But ye, brethren, are not in darkness”. What grace is that towards us too, dear brethren, that we are in the light, and desirous of being in keeping with the light, and in the gain and good of it.
Well, let us pursue. The scripture our brother read in Hebrews is also encouraging because it says, “Wherefore lift up the hands that hang down, and the failing knees; and make straight
paths for your feet, that that which is lame … may be healed”, Hebrews 12: 12, 13. So that healing, even when we deflect, is always open to us—as Mr. Darby wrote—
And if I wander, teach me
Soon back to Thee to flee.
What a gracious Lord we have, and what a God and Father, always towards us; and we have the service of the Holy Spirit—each divine Person is thus on our behalf to maintain us in the path of faithfulness to Christ.
We are sons, sons of the light and sons of the day. What cause we have to rejoice, dear brethren, that we are being initiated into the glorious prospect before us—the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, firstly for His own, and then in relation to putting everything right for God, and to take up His rights in this very world that belongs to Him.
May we be encouraged, and each of us be prepared to give the Lord His rights now, as we wait for His return, for His name’s sake.
Word in meeting for ministry, Helston
18 September 1973