We have heard that the Patience of God is great.  We have heard that He provides for the wicked regardless how they rail against Him.  In this Great Patience His Mercy is profound.  But we have also heard that there is an end to His Patience and Mercy.  In the Lord’s patience we find Him a “long suffering” God.  But He will not suffer loss forever.  He has warned us that there is an end to His patience and mercy.

How long has He suffered with the rebellion of man?  We are told, and believe, that He has suffered the rebellion of man since the sin of Eve.  But I saw something more last night. And if we allow ourselves to understand, our concept of the Glory of God is about to increase.

I have written that this place of testing was built as an answer to an accusation.  I have written that we are living answers.  An accusation was presented regarding God’s Glorious patience, mercy, and righteousness.  You will find this in the post called, “What is man that you are mindful of him?”

We should not assume that God simply rose to His Holy Throne one day to condemn the accuser.  We are taught that God does nothing without employing great patience and mercy first.  There is the Love of God which provokes Him to counsel, teach, and rebuke the wickedness within all of us.  I rest confident that this was also employed in the way of the accuser.  We read that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  And we have read and believe that Jesus is the exact representation of the Father.  So in Jesus we have a telling view of our Father in Heaven.  And for those who are learning to Love Jesus, we have the personal testimony of His great patience, mercy, and righteousness.

Look at the patience of the Lord that He should suffer so for the sake of bringing us to His Father, clean, confident, and full of holiness.  Consider how many years the Lord has suffered with the sins of man.  Would you now think that the accuser did not have the same mercy applied to his sin before this place of testing was built?  Would you conclude that God rose quickly to condemn without first trying to rectify the problem?

Who can accurately name the number of centuries man has been allowed to prosper and sin under the watchful eye of the Holy Lord God?  And we have never seen the face of the Most High.  Mercy to us is extended while we learn of His ways.  This same God, who is so very gentle with those who are striving to rid themselves of rebellion, would surely have dealt with the accuser in the same way.  How many of our years might He have been patient with this one?  Who can tell.  But I know the patience and mercy He has shown me.  And I revel in the fact that He is a Marvelous God who is able to save those who desire to rectify their state of affairs before His Holy Throne.

There is, however, a place where the heart of His creatures becomes sealed with a lock.  We do not die because we have sinned.  We die because we have determined that He will not be allowed entrance into our heart, mind, and soul.  We close off every word of correction and become proud of our hardness of heart.  Rebellion sets in and utterly closes any possible hope of avoiding regret.  We see this in many who have heard the Gospel over and over, yet remain in their sins; not calling out to the Lord, because they no longer see any fear of hell.  They no longer consider the Holy Love of God.  This hardness of heart remains a place where God can no longer hope to help.  And the end of such men is absolute destruction.  For they have sealed themselves against the Lord God’s ways.  And reject any possible alliance with eternal life.

I submit that the patience of our God was extended before He saw the accuser harden his heart.  Yet, when God perceived the bent desire of the accuser, I can also rest assured that God moved quickly to begin this place of testing.  There is alarm and fear within me as I consider the Lord God Almighty approaching me without mercy!  And now this accuser stands in exactly that place.  He is condemned without mercy.  For the Lord has already given what he intended, and was able and willing, to give.  Now there is nothing left but to be utterly destroyed.  For God will not live with rebellion and sin forever.  He will restore His Glorious peaceful place.  And never again will rebellion exist!

Why do I bring this up?  Because men rarely understand the God they serve.  Because God’s patience does have an end.  And His mercy will not be extended forever to those who remain rebellious.  There is a place where we become hardened against His Love.   And He can no longer have any effect on the heart of these ones.  I present this post to cause those who love Him and struggle with their sins to consider. Renew your efforts to submit yourself to the Lord you say you serve.  Consider how powerful and deep is the patience of God for those who desire to be rid of their rebellion. 

But if we look at the promises of destruction for the accuser, and that of those who harden their hearts to the Gospel, we also see the sure end of the patience of God.  He does not hand over to destruction because He has lost His patience with us.  He sees the condition of our heart when we reach the point where we lock it down to His Love.  When a man becomes handed over to destruction, it is his own fault!  We read, “The one who sins is the one who will die”.  We never hear of the Lord condemning the righteous, who struggle to learn to love Him.  It is the rebellious who are pronounced as walking dead.

Be wise and consider these things.  There is a fence within you which divides hope from hopelessness.  I would advise you, with urgency, to step toward God and away from that fence.  You know the place.  God has placed a divide within us.  And each of us knows where that divide is placed.  Once you cross that line and lock your heart to His Love, you will be sealed forever.  Enter His love and push away rebellion.  Accept His leading, teaching, and discipline.  He is leading you toward Himself and away from that chasm which divides life from death.  Why would you choose death?  When He offers such glorious communion with Himself and you? 

I promise and testify a truth:  There is a Glorious peace to be had in submitting ourselves to His Love.  He does not leave His people dry and empty as they come near Him.  He replaces rebellion and hopelessness with a marvelous peace and joy!  With this in mind, why would you choose death?

If, after reading this long post, you desire to read the Word of God regarding this issue you will find Jeremiah 15: 5 -21.  The Lord is providing every possible avenue for your escape right now!  Step away from the Lock.  You do not have the key to reopen it.  And the Lord has no key to reopen it.  Once locked, you are sealed as one who will be destroyed.  And this sealing will be on your own head.  I will tell you that there are billions who have done this horrible thing to themselves.  And some are walking around in this world.  Many are already waiting for their destruction, reserved in a place for judgment.  DO NOT JOIN THEM!