Geplaatst:12 okt 2007 13:10 - Gewijzigd: 12 okt 2007 13:10

Longsuffering

„The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

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We have a great proof of the longsuffering of God in Saul of Tarsus. He was a pharisee, and as touching the righteousness of the law, he was blameless in his own eyes. But there never was a more inveterately malicious enemy to Jesus of Nazareth and His humble followers than this Saul. He was mad against the church of God. He consented to the death of Stephen, and held the raiment of them that slew him. He made havoc of the saints, entering into every house and hailing men and women, committed them to prison, and compelled them to blaspheme the name of that Jesus on whom their hope for heaven depended. He breathed out threatening and slaughter against the disciples of Jesus, and went to the high-priest, and desired of him letters of authority that he might go to Damascus and bring the few that were there who called upon the name of the Lord, and have them bound fast as prisoners at Jerusalem.

This was Saul’s free will, and it was carrying him as fast as possible towards hell, and it would have engulfed him there, except for free grace, which plucked him as a brand out of the fire, being a chosen vessel of mercy. The Lord, that He might magnify the riches of His grace in the salvation of the chief of sinners, suffered him to go near to Damascus, but not to enter in, the time being now come for Saul to be called by grace. And Jesus said to him: „Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? lt is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”

Down the rebel fell in the dust, and Jesus slew the enmity of his heart and made him willing to be anything or nothing, that Christ might be all in all. What a display of the grace and power of Christ shines forth in the conversion of Saul, and of the power of Christ resting upon him to fit and qualify him to preach that gospel he had laboured to destroy. From this time to his dying day, nothing but free grace and a dying Jesus’s love would do for him. And he is now wearing his crown of glory in heaven, and shouting: „Victory, through the blood of the Lamb.”

John Kershaw (1792-1870), minister at Rochdale, Lancashire, England

2 Peter 3:9