God drinks up our sin like water.
The word is "destroy" sin:
1 John 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might
destroy the works of the devil.
rebellion from time to time, of the Elect
Where have you seen the Elect rebel against God "from time to time"?
Not in Scripture, His elect are obedient unto death, as demonstrated by the Apostles, and it is because of their loyalty they were elected, because they are faithful to Him.
As God is faithful:
Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the Lord thy God, he is God,
the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and
mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations
Be faithful to enter into the joy of the Lord:
Matthew 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and
faithful servant: thou hast been
faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the
joy of thy lord.
long periods of time of angry rebellion, not to mention the awful sins we cherish
All this is evidence of someone who is not in Christ, because in Him there is no darkness at all:
1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Sin is of the devil, and anger and hatred, darkness:
1 John 2:9 He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.
I'm talking about the patience of God who waits for the 'old man' to die.
It is wellworth His time, there is great joy in Heaven when someone repents:
Luke 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Also, He is Eternal, and wishes all come to repentance. But if they dont repent God is not bothered, God is not mocked, they are on their own, and he wont hear them:
Isaiah 59:1 Behold, the Lord's hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:
2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that
he will not hear.
WHY should he undergo such pain for such silly, self-important creatures?
First, God does not undergo pain, there is no pain in Heaven, He is not bothered in the slightest because someone rebelled against, if anything you provoke Him to anger, and it will be you who undergoes pain not Him, and a lot of pain, even forever.
If you were refering to Christ, who went trough pain on the cross, it is because He is wise, and He knows this pain is just a "few things", and because He was faithful in few things, God made Him ruler over many things, and he is in the joy of the Lord. Also, since He died for us, and loves us, maybe we are not just "silly creatures", and we have value, so much that Christ died for us, because it was worth it. We are Gods creatures, dont undermine.
And this is the example to follow: to be faithful even unto death, because these are the "few things", and the servant who is faithful over few things will be faithful over many things in the joy of the Lord.
Matthew 16:25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
And to undergo all the pain necessary even death, because this is the "small thing" and is nothing compared to the torment of eternal death.
Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.