“I know your works, your labor, your patience…you have persevered and have patience, and have labored for my name’s sake.” Rev 2:2,3
When Jesus appeared to the Apostle John, before unveiling the mysteries and dramatic parts of what would become the book of Revelation, he first inspected seven churches in Asia Minor (modern-day Turkey) to determine their health, then issued instructions and warnings as needed. One of the main things He appraised might surprise us today: He was looking for patience.
Patience–also translated longsuffering, perseverance, or endurance—is not a priority for us who live in the age of instant gratification. Ours is the time when near limitless information unfolds in milliseconds at the stroke of a key, or touch of an icon. Our forebears toiled long and hard to harvest food for their families. We get a week’s worth of groceries delivered to us “next-day” after a fifteen-minute surf on our favorite supermarket website. In a world of finger-snapping provision, patience can seem rather…old-fashioned.
And yet, keeping our head’s cool is, according to Jesus, a top-tier requirement for us as at the sunset of history. It was in this context He spelled out specifically, “He who endures to the end shall be saved” (Mat 24:13) and “By your patience possess your souls” (Luk 21:19). James also reemphasizes the call to not get scuttled by restlessness: “Be patient, until the coming of the Lord…establish your hearts…do not grumble…the Judge is standing at the door!” (Jam 5:7-9).
Thank God patience is not simply a product of our best white-knuckled efforts. We are filled with the Holy Spirit! Patience is one of the precious fruits the Spirit has so richly deposited in us, “against which there is no law” (Gal 5:22-23). This essentially means that while all men are capable of cultivating a measure of patience through discipline, by His Spirit, we are empowered to excel in endurance–to manifest a qualitative and distinctly higher standard of patience in the face of every manner of hardship and circumstance than those who have not the Christ. As we abide in Him and take our daily doses of life-enriching Word, it’s natural for the Life that’s in the Vine to infuse our branches with plump grapes of patience by which the Father is most marvelously glorified (Jn 15:5-8). Expect it.
For those who serve the Lord, the bar is raised even higher. Consider that Moses was disqualified to enter the Promised Land after one, embarrassing temper tantrum. Consider too that while men look for charisma and fantastic signs and wonders as proof of those we esteem as Apostles, Paul begins his list of “signs of an apostle” in 2 Cor 12:12 with “perseverance”, and affirms the marks of his ministry in 2 Cor 6:4 by stating at the outset: “we commend ourselves as ministers of God: in much patience…”
The Mighty Pruner still strolls among His vineyard squeezing its grapes. The Judge is approaching the fateful door of history’s climax. And yes, the Great Inspector is again ambling among the lampstands of His people. We now know what He’s looking for. Come on, beloved, let’s make a quality and collective decision today: Days of chaos are upon us. Therefore, let us excel in patience!