Wells without Water

2 Peter 2:17

We live in a day of pseudo intellectuality. The educational system is no longer an unbiased and wholistic examination of the past. That is to consider both thoughts and actions in the context of their milieu. Rather, there‘s a type of arrogance, that we know better and are better than they. This is because the past is not employed for honest learning, but for a dishonest agenda. So what abounds in our day is a deep emptiness of shallow conclusions. We’re in a culture which relies on the sensations of the moment to make monumental decisions on right and wrong. We idolize people who have great swelling words of fake virtue. Although they be contrary to both Christ and commonsense. Much of this worldly sentiment has crept into our churches. Pretend preachers mount not a few pulpits today. The unsuspecting come to empty wells looking for water, only to leave as thirsty as they have come. Often, the mantra today is the gospel is antiquated. We know better than Paul or Peter. We have advanced beyond the teaching of the Bible days. One commentary notes, “These men are like dried-up watering-places in the desert, which entice and mock the thirsty traveller; perhaps leading him into danger also by drawing him from places where there is water.” On another occasion Paul gives a prerequisite in order to become a bearer of truth: “If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.” Worldly wisdom and God’s wisdom are antithetical. Such a carnal one in the pulpit may be extremely deep, and yet utterly dry. 

Love is Patient

Charity suffereth long (1 Corinthians 13:4)

It is no incident that Paul places patience as the first characteristic of love. Patience must be resident in all the other characteristics of love that follow. In the original language, it means to be long-spirited. Patience is the opposite of temptation. Temptation masquerades as a shortcut to one's desire. James makes the contrast clear, 

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire," wanting nothing. (James 1:2-4)

Patience fights temptation by waiting on God. It does so with a settled spirit. Patience is not on the edge. The bible commands us not to be anxious and patience is not. As it pertains to love, it is a willingness to wait on God to make a difference in the person. One realization of patience is the recognition that our timing is not always God's timing. Patience is willing to wait on God's timing as opposed to trying to dictate your timing to God. In a sense, patience is to search for God in a situation. That is, to look for God's hand and work in the circumstance. Here's a spiritual reality. While you are asking God to work on somebody else, God is working on you. There are two wonderful things about patience. One is patience cannot lose. The second thing is patience always ends in an unexpected blessing. Paul helps us to understand how God works in the life of the believer. He says, 

 "And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope..." (Romans 5:3-4)

God is always working on the believer when he or she is exercising patience. One always comes out better. The patience-journey will always end in an unexpected blessing as one experiences God. Isaiah captures the reward of patience this way,

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)