Even in my short 38+ years, I have noticed something in recent years that wasn't always the case. I can only imagine how those who are older than me feel about this observation. We are more than ever an "instant" society.
Coffee, oatmeal, and other breakfast foods have been billed as "instant." Businesses use many angles to sell their products, one of which is how fast they can serve you. Now, even having access to the internet isn't enough...the thing to possess is the broad-band modem instead of the regular dial-up version. After all, who has time to waste while a web page slowly loads in your browser?
There is One who will not get caught up in this "instant" madness...God. Actually, He prefers things not to be in a rush. "Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?" (Rom. 2:4). "But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day." (2 Pet. 3:8).
Notice the short exhortation from the writer of Hebrews, Heb. 6:9-12.
w We have "better things" awaiting us; namely, salvation (v. 9).
w God will not forget our works of faithfulness, our "labor of love" in serving Him, others (v. 10).
w We need to be diligent and full of hope "until the end" (v. 11).
w While not being "sluggish," we need to imitate others who have believed and inherited the promises of God "through faith and patience" (v. 12) [emphasis mine].
It's one thing to demand fast service in earthly endeavors. Yet we know such thinking won't work regarding our soul and eternity. To succeed in this realm, it's going to take "faith" (confident trust in living by the word of the Lord), and "patience" (willingness to stick it out over the long haul). God uses time to show His mercy in giving us chances to obey Him in being saved and to repent when we've sinned. He also uses it to allow us the opportunity to grow in our faith and appreciation for what He's done. The great inheritance He has promised won't go to the fastest. It goes to those who faithfully wait (cp. Isa. 40:31).
