God's general pattern is to allow people time to repent rather than instantly executing judgment. He is merciful and longsuffering, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. He has given the nations of Israel time to repent, yet this generosity can dull the sense of urgency, leading to complacency among His people. Even within the church, He allows time for repentance, setting limits to prevent hearts from becoming fully set in the wrong way. His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering are designed to lead us to repentance, as His kindness supplies what is suitable to our spiritual needs. In His benevolence, He may provide trying circumstances or gentle nudges to encourage us to consider our ways and make necessary adjustments. Through His goodness, He leads us to repentance so we can ultimately live a more spiritually abundant life.

In Jesus Christ's letter to the congregation in Thyatira, a poignant truth emerges: even though God is not obligated to grant sinners additional time, His general approach is to allow people time to repent, as seen in Revelation 2:21. Throughout Scripture, this pattern of patience is evident, giving individuals the opportunity to turn from their ways, though exceptions exist where God's judgment is swift. This divine patience often leads to frustration among the faithful, as observed by Asaph in Psalm 73, who struggled with the apparent ease of the wicked until he understood that God was granting them time to repent. Similarly, Noah endured 120 years of preaching, surrounded by wickedness, while God extended time for repentance to a generation that ultimately rejected it. Today, those called of God witness crumbling morality and must persevere, trusting in His timing for judgment. Paul's proclamation to the men of Athens underscores this call to repentance, declaring that God now commands all men everywhere to turn from their ways, with Christ's resurrection as a sign of impending judgment. For the last 2,000 years, God has required repentance, holding even those without direct revelation accountable for their actions, as enough knowledge of right and wrong exists to leave mankind without excuse. Yet, as Solomon notes in Ecclesiastes 8:11, delayed judgment often hardens hearts, leading to increased sin rather than repentance. In contrast, the swift warning to Nineveh, with only forty days until destruction, prompted immediate repentance, showing that a shorter timeframe can focus the mind on change. Conversely, the prolonged time given during Noah's era allowed hearts to grow callous, disregarding the warning and setting themselves in evil ways. God's abundant time for repentance, while a reflection of His mercy, is often wasted on those who refuse to heed the call.

God, in His goodness, grants His people time to repent, actively working to guide them back to the right path through various means, from gentle reminders to significant events. He sent prophets to the ancient Israelites, persistently calling them to repentance, though they often ignored or persecuted these messengers. Similarly, God sends messages to us today, sometimes through unexpected or humbling means, to lead us back to Him. His kindness in prompting repentance may surprise or even offend, yet it bears good fruit if we humble ourselves to accept it. While God offers this grace period, it can be misunderstood as approval of wrongdoing, leading us to ignore His promptings and silence our conscience over time. He remains faithful to His covenant, tirelessly working on our behalf, yet He will not force His image upon us if we choose otherwise. There is a time when the Lord may be sought and found, but this opportunity does not last forever, urging us to redeem the time that remains and turn back to Him.

In the book of Revelation, the call to repentance emerges as a central theme, particularly in times of great stress and danger at the close of the age. Christ urges the church to turn away from sin and worldliness, emphasizing the need to overcome idolatry and syncretism. His message to the seven churches in chapters 2 and 3 is clear: come out of the world, focus with zeal on Him and His way, and endure to the end. To five of the seven churches—Ephesus, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, and Laodicea—Christ issues a direct call to repent. For Ephesus, He admonishes them to return to their first love, to soften their hardened hearts, and to do the primary works of love and service, lest their lampstand be removed. The Pergamenes, living where satan's influence is strong, are warned to reject false doctrines that compromise with God's law, particularly those leading to idolatry and sexual immorality, before these sins become entrenched. Thyatira's issue is more severe, as false teachings have taken root, openly taught by a deceptive figure; though Christ offers time to repent, many refuse, clinging to their sins, and only great tribulation might awaken some. Sardis, nearly spiritually dead, is urged to wake up, to remember the truth provided by God's servants, and to actively engage in the Christian walk, overcoming their fear of standing out from the world. Finally, the Laodiceans, blinded by self-satisfaction, are counseled to buy gold, white garments, and eye salve—representing character, righteousness, and spiritual discernment—and to invite Christ into their lives for an intimate relationship, as they have ignored Him in their self-absorption. Christ's call to repentance is urgent, driven by the impending wrath of the Day of the Lord. He warns that those who refuse to repent will face the full force of God's judgment, as seen in the grim depictions of unrepentant sinners enduring plagues yet still blaspheming God. The root of their refusal lies in idolatry and failure to submit to the true God, leading to further sins like murder, sorcery, and immorality. Through these warnings, Christ seeks to save the church from such wrath, urging immediate action to seek righteousness and transform into His image before the devastation arrives. Repentance is portrayed as a transformative process, requiring deep introspection, humility, submission, and even pain, as it involves a complete reversal of thought, word, and deed to reflect His character.

The Feast of Trumpets has a dual role, a memorial of God's past deliverance and a warning about future judgment. The Feast of Trumpets marks the third season in an annual spiritual cycle encapsulating: 1.) What God has done, deliverance from sin, 2.) What He is doing, Pentecost-transformation and growth, and 3.) What He will do—Christ's return and final judgment. The Feast of Trumpets (Yom Teruah, beginning the 10 Days of Awe) signifies a spiritual alarm, admonishing people to repent, reflect, and prepare for the coming Day of the Lord, a horrendous time of judgment, ushering in the return of Jesus Christ. Just as God commanded our ancestors on the Sinai to remember their deliverance from Egypt, God commands His people today to remember their spiritual deliverance from sin and Satan. II Peter challenges us to grow in Christ-like character, producing spiritual fruit and glorifying Almighty God. We must assiduously avoid drifting into spiritual complacency like the Laodicean church and the five foolish virgins. As Almighty God's people, we must secure our calling and avoid being unprepared when Christ returns.

Contrasting the idioms "glass half full" connoting optimism, with "glass half empty" connoting pessimism, these metaphors reveal the concept that "fullness" is an ideal state of abundance and satisfaction, while the fullness of evil leads to destruction and divine judgment, describing the horrendous Great Tribulation (Matthew 24:21-22) caused by humanity's sin, culminating in devastating cosmic disturbances (Revelation 16:12-17), and the "Day of the Lord" ushering in Christ's intervention to save humanity from annihilating itself and establishing the Kingdom of God on earth. In Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul prays that God's people comprehend the vast dimensions of Christ's love, its width, length, depth, and height. Its width encompasses all nations and peoples, its length, eternal, from eternity past to future, its depth rescuing sinners from degradation, and its height elevating believers to divine glory as heirs of God. The love of Christ is changeless, endless, and transforming, casting out all fear and filling His disciples with God's love. Let us meditate on this love which will empower us to overcome, living as a part of God's eternal plan, and culminating in a glorious, perfected church.