Patience Is Not Indifference

Patience is not indifference. Patience is an immensely strong rock, withstanding all onslaughts. The vision of God is the source of patience, because it gives moral inspiration. Moses was able to be patient, not because he had a sense of duty but because he had the vision of God: “He persevered because he saw him who is invisible” (Hebrews 11:27). If God gives you a time of temptation in the wilderness, when there is no word from him at all, be patient. The power to endure is yours because you see God.

A person who has had a vision of God is devoted to God himself, not to any particular cause or issue. You always know if the vision you’re having is of God because of the inspiration it brings. When you see God, everything around you is energized. Everything is larger, more vibrant, more.

“Though it linger, wait for it.” The proof that we have the vision is that we are reaching out for more than we have grasped. It is a bad thing to be satisfied spiritually. We have the tendency to look for satisfaction in our experience. We think that because we’ve experienced salvation and sanctification, we have the power to endure anything. The instant we begin to think this way, we are on the road to ruin. If we have nothing more than our experiences, we have nothing. If we have the inspiration of the vision of God, we have more than we can experience.

Never let yourself relax spiritually. Press on toward your goal.12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12 (KJV)

As I said in yesterday’s post, I had eye surgery on my left eye on Tuesday this week. I have worn glasses since the age of 13. I am 72 years old now. The lens the surgeon put in my left eye is amazing. When I look through my left eye alone it is as sharp as if I was looking through my old glasses, but with no fog or blur, which was the problem I was having with my left eye. My surgeon says that my right eye needs a new lens as well. However, the recovery process is very frustrating. I can’t drive now because I wear this eye patch over my left eye and so I can’t see to the left at all. When they do my right eye, I will have to depend on my new left eye all the time while the right eye heals. I am sure driving will be still off the table. Writing like this is also quite frustrating. I am so grateful that I took typing in High School back in 1967 so I never have to look at the keyboard to see where the keys are. So, what has this to do with What Oswald Chambers was talking about?  Look at what he said about being satisfied spiritually, as we look for satisfaction in our experience and think that because we have experienced salvation and ratification, we have the power to endure anything. God is showing me that He has taken me beyond this, but I have been negligent in seeking to fulfill the vision He gave me back in 2003-2004 when He drew me back to Himself to walk in repentance to walk by faith and to teach others that this is what He wants all of His sheep to do. So, I am being frustrated by my eye situation to get my attention, so I can get back on track. Please pray for me in this.