God's Mercies Endure

Psalm 135:1 - For the LORD will judge His people, and He will have compassion on His servants.

A friend recently emailed me and asked what my thoughts were on the future of the United States. I had to say I thought it was questionable. Why? Because we have let too much slip past our once, much more moral, beliefs. We've never been perfect, but we were better than today.

This scripture is what put all this into my head today. People will question how a loving God can bring disaster and difficulties into this world, into our individual lives. It's to bring about His glory. Sounds pretty self-centered--and it should. God, who created this world for us and our pleasure, as well as His own, should be the center of our lives, not ourselves.

All throughout the Bible God has destroyed what is evil and there won't be any reason for Him to stop. I think about Sodom and Gomorrah. These cities were filled with sin. The name of one city is even used today to promote just the reason God destroyed it. God abhors evil. He cannot live in the presence of sin. At the time of Sodom and Gomorrah, Abraham's nephew Lot and his family lived in Sodom. I do not believe they fell into the sins of the city, but just their living there had to have affected them, perhaps allowing them to become accustomed to the lifestyle within the city.

In the world and in the United States, we have grown accustomed, slowly, to what is considered tolerance, which once was considered offensive. I'm sure there are some who think this would be a severe or uncompromising thought. But Jesus was not somewhere in the gray area of thinking. His views were either black or white, no in between, either right or wrong.

Even Christians compromise, myself included. Not that I like it. I've been able to see two sides to every story, although today there is more discernment taking place and I may not agree...but I may not take a stand, much to my dismay. I need to stand up for what is right in God's eyes. But that's between He and I!

Yes, God's mercy endures forever and it extends to all mankind. His mercy was extended to many people in the Bible, especially to the little nation of Israel. It always will be. Israel is filled with God's people. Today His mercy is in the form of God's only Son, Jesus. We who are followers of Christ and have a right relationship with Him are also considered God's people and He will extend His mercy to us as well.

The Word tells us He brings low the lofty. He saves those who follow Him, who trust in Him. He brings down those who do not fear Him. I struggle writing this for some reason. Maybe because it's hard to write about a loving God who strikes down those who go against Him. There's the question. Why does He do that if He loves all people? The answer is--because He loves them. He may not destroy at first but will weaken in order that He be seen for the powerful God He is. That may happen with our country. We founded this country on the principles of God's Word and now God is being tossed out. Persecution because of the name of Jesus in this country is beginning to take shape. I look at this world and visualize a cancer. The sickness started small and is growing. Without the help of a Great Physician (Jesus, Messiah) it will consume itself. That's a pretty hard thing to visualize.

Psalm 136:12, 17-18 tells us With a strong hand, and with an outstretched arm...who led His people through the wilderness...who struck down great kings...and slew famous kings...His mercy endures forever. He uses disaster to bring us closer to Him (as individuals, a nation or the world). His arm is outstretched that we may take hold of it. He removes the evil in order to save the righteous. And that can take place by entering into relationship with Him--He removes the sin within us. If we follow Christ, believe in Him, believe in His Word, trust in Him for our lives and our future, stop putting Him on a shelf and allow His Spirit to reign in our hearts, He will uphold us.

Yes, His mercy does endure. He is patient but in today's world I think His patience is growing thin. His hand will be outstretched for those who desire Him. His hand will be withdrawn from those whose desire is for themselves and their own way of living--those who march to a different beat, who oppose all that is good and stand for the lies of the enemy. This is not about a political party or a certain denomination. It's about you and Him. I can point you to Christ, to that relationship, but I cannot make it happen. I'm thankful God will outstretch His harm to anyone, at any time, in any condition, to bring them into right relationship with Him. ANYONE. From the most evil leader to the person who unknowingly and blindly follows society. He wants to show His glory. He wants to remove the barrier that separates Him those who do not know Him. His mercies do endure if you give Him a chance.

Psalm 136:1 - Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.