There is one verse in the New Testament which, in the Greek, always brings a lump to my throat, just as Isaiah 53 must do to any reader. That is 1. Tim. 1:16, which tells of Christ Jesus shewing forth His "entire long-suffering" (or patience). Paul was astounded to the end of his days that the Lord could go on being so patient with him. Yet could we ever picture to ourselves a Christ who lost patience, at any time, with anyone? I must confess that to me the idea is quite absurd and impossible. It is altogether unthinkable. Just here I must press another point. Is it within the sphere of possibility that the Father could ever lose His patience, or wax irascible? Again we are forced to conclude that this is an utter impossibility. We are obliged to believe that God's patience is as inexhaustible as is His Love. That He will exhibit wrath to some does not mean that He will ever lose patience. His wrath will only be temporary. Will His patience only be temporary, or will it be as eternal as Himself?
I would humbly submit that those preachers who prate about the measureless depths of God's eternal love ought to study their own words, with a dictionary in their hands, unless they really know what Divine Love is and must ever be. The Love that "will not let me go" will never let anyone go, eternally. God can afford to wait, and win. But He cannot afford to lose, not even one. It is not His wish that a single one should be eventually lost.
Alexander Thomson
