Patience in the Kingdom

John who could have been waiting for deliverance was tested for his patience inside the dunk and dark dungeon where Herod had thrown him. In fact, he sent some of his disciples to ask the Lord if He were the One they were waiting for. It was the sad voice of a man already hard-pressed. When I passed through his cell, my thoughts were flying again, racing through as I tried to remember the days that other apostles have gone through. Most leaders who were entrusted with true authority have been afflicted by the Lord. They were thrown into situations which they could not control, many were betrayed, killed, unjustly accused and executed and some even tortured in the most inhumane way imaginable. Yet He also promised, “they will lay their hands on you and will persecute you, delivering you to the synagogues and prisons, bringing you before kings and governors for My name’s sake. “It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony” (Luke 21:12-13).

John’s opportunity to witness

John’s anguish inside the prison cell demonstrate his humanity, that though God can use a vessel who seems to be perfect in every way, yet He also showed us that  he is frail without the Lord, doubting and even asking questions of Him. In spite of this, the Lord’s promise is clear, “It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony.” This was the reason why John was imprisoned, that in spite of his circumstance, the Word of the Lord is not bound. That his patient endurance inside the prison cell, waiting for his martyrdom, will lead to the greatest opportunity of his life to witness before the king who represents the kingdom of darkness. Just a few more days, and John would be in paradise but he never vacillated in his faith or in rebuking the fox, “it is unlawful for you to have Herodias, your brother’s wife.”

Correcting others in the error of their way could lead us to death, but death has no sting to them whose lives have been given to the Lord. They who have made Heaven their abode and the earth the place of their footstool cannot feel pain. They have died to this world. Thus He could confidently tell us, “So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to defend yourselves; for I will give you utterance and wisdom which none of your opponents will be able to resist or refute. “But you will be betrayed even by parents and brothers and relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death, and you will be hated by all because of My name. “Yet not a hair of your head will perish. “By your endurance you will gain your lives”(Luke 21:14-19). Those whose eyes were set above do not fret because they know God is in control.

Even when their properties or loved ones are taken away, these do not covet the treasures of the earth because they have exchanged their riches for the pearl of great price that cannot perish. It is not easy to count the days inside the prison walls of Herod but as long as John could use his mouth and his eyes, he will still stand up and praise the Lord, seeking Him daily having understood the meaning of being in the secret place. He called on God in loud cries and in silent meditations of simply reading the Scriptures, the Holy Spirit of God washing his heart and igniting his fiery devotion of Him. Patience is the mark of faith apart from simply believing and claiming the Word of God for our lives. It is the lack of faith whenever we become impatient in waiting on God. James wrote the following for our edification, that we may know what is patient endurance, “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4 NKJV).

Self-will has no place in discipleship

While it is true that faith is counter to unbelief, the lack of patience does mean also the unbroken self-will of man emerges to take control. It is king over faith and easily dominates the perspective of the person. Only those who see the King beyond their circumstances will not get discouraged even when circumstances point otherwise because they have anchored themselves to the King Who upholds all things by the Word of His mouth. His law and His power cannot be dictated by anyone else, in Him all things are created and hold together. Because John remains patient until all things were settled together, that is until the time of the scheme of Herodias came so he waited.

He did not feel any compelling force to get back and become a preacher again. His friends who have gone to Jesus came back and retold the stories circulating around, the poor have the gospel preached to them, the blind can see, the lame can walk and the deaf and mute can hear and speak. Upon hearing these, John understood that he has already fulfilled as he has said earlier, “He must increase but I must decrease.” The Morningstar (John) must fade when the Sun (Son of God) rises up to take over the whole sky. I did not feel compelled to go and visit my friend again as I heard the Lord spoke, He has set things to happen as they will for the higher purpose of God.

Many families grieve over the lost of their son or daughter who died in the mission field, but if we only understand that all these things are done for the sake of witnessing, that truth is greater than lies and that life is greater than death, it will not be as somber as we think it is. We will not be overly fearful or even become protective of our sons or daughters knowing that they too are sons and daughters of the King of Kings and nothing happens without Him first approving them. It is a simple truth, but it reverberates throughout eternity, that men of lesser degree trample on them, but those of noble souls take it up inspired by their journey of how they fought valiantly even to the end, not refusing or giving in a single acre of land or territory to the devil.

Life is more powerful than death

These are what makes true soldiers-dedicated, pure, sincere and faithful to the end, they become rock because they have accepted the revelation of truth—life is more powerful than death! We are again exhorted in Hebrews 6:12 “[to] not be sluggish, but [be] imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.” Abraham struggled to believe in God, even to believe His promises but above all, He received them because he remained patient to the end, believing that He is able to do as He has said. In hope against hope he believed, so that he might become a father of many nations according to that which had been spoken, “So shall your descendants be.”  Without becoming weak in faith he contemplated his own body, now as good as dead since he was about a hundred years old, and the deadness of Sarah’s womb; yet, with respect to the promise of God, he did not waver in unbelief but grew strong in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully assured that what God had promised, He was able also to perform (Romans 4:18-21). What makes Abraham and the likes of men who followed him is that they have faith even when circumstance show otherwise.

But it must be noted that their faith was firmly grounded according to the Word and promise of God. Because God promised to give him a son, an heir, he prayed and believed that it will happen just as He has promised. Only when we do not have a Word from God directly should we even doubt what we are praying. But every time we have a promise from the Lord, a Word or prophecy and it has not come to pass yet, let us follow the path of Abraham, believing in hope against hope so that we may obtain the promise which He has in store for us. In addition, Paul recounted the struggles of Israel and the ways of God in the wilderness so that those who will be instructed will not fall into the same pit which they have gone.

Now these things happened as examples for us, so that we would not crave evil things as they also craved.  Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and stood up to play.”  Nor let us act immorally, as some of them did, and twenty-three thousand fell in one day.  Nor let us try the Lord, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the serpents.  Nor grumble, as some of them did, and were destroyed by the destroyer.  Now these things happened to them as an example, and they were written for our instruction, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.  Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.
No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. (1 Corinthians 10:6-13)

The need for endurance

Most often times, we chose to give up just moments before our deliverance comes. Like Israel in the wilderness, we allow our circumstance to shake us and kill us. Instead of hearing and being led by the Spirit of God, many have allowed opportunities to set-them up. If only we have waited more, then we could have gotten our breakthroughs, “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet in a very little while, He who is coming will come, and will not delay. But My righteous one shall live by faith; And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him” (Hebrews 10:36-38). True faith will not be led by what is seen, or by what is already in the past but by the unseen and the conviction of things being hoped for (Hebrews 11:1).