As I was editing my last post on God’s patterns of working I thought about the implications of what I was writing. If part of God’s character is this slowness to anger and waiting to be merciful, what does that mean for me and my role toward those who don’t know him?

Lately I’ve been frustrated by all the injustice in this world. I won’t go into specifics. I’m sure you’re painfully aware of it. Injustice, evil and sin are not new to this world though. We’ve been neck deep for quite sometime, personally and corporately. As a popular saying goes, “We’re all in this together.” “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23

As the sovereign judge of all, God could’ve made things right a long time ago. He could’ve started over after Adam and Eve. But he didn’t. He was merciful. He was gracious. Sometimes I wish God would act and bring about a final reckoning now. Christ’s return is imminent but I’m not sure if it will be in my lifetime.

So while I wait, what should I do? What is my role? It is to work with God to bring about what he longs for and what will surely happen: that all the earth will one day be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. (see Habakkuk 2:14)

God waits so that he can save and bring more and more people to the knowledge of his glory through the gospel of Jesus Christ. And we get to be a part of that. Do I long for people to know this God and to see his glory? That is a sobering thought.

“How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!'” Romans 10:14-15

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.” Romans 1:16

“…if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9