NOT ALWAYS!

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

NOT ALWAYS!

Ps 103:8-12

8 The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.

9 He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever.

10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.

12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.

           I was thinking, this morning, that this present situation is unsustainable. It won’t last forever. Eventually, we will evaluate our freedom and our personal safety and many will choose freedom. With that in mind, I want to focus on something else that is unsustainable – God’s wrath.

           God will not always scold or be contentious (see verse 9). This is true because of God’s nature and not because of our turning back to Him. He is gracious and merciful.

           God has not fully addressed our sins. They are too great! What He has done is paid our debt for us because we are morally bankrupt. I saw a quote this morning offered by my friend Fred Krueger. It goes like this: “Justification in the Bible sense therefore is the act of God removing from the believing sinner, his guilt and the penalty incurred by that guilt, and bestowing a positive righteousness, Christ Jesus Himself in whom the believer stands, not only innocent and uncondemned, but actually righteous in point of law for time and for eternity. (Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament - Volume 3.)

           Once forgiven, our sins are forgotten! God casts them away – as far away as the east is from the west.

Ps 103:17

17 But the mercy of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children; [Grandchildren, or the third generation.]

Lord, we know that soon the SON will shine on us again. Please make it soon. Do not remember our sins forever. Cast them behind Thy back. In wrath, remember mercy and be gracious unto Thy children. AMEN