Romans 9.22-23 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath
and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath
prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for
vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory...
Careful Turk , you’re getting into some deep waters…
Vessels of wrath? Vessels of mercy – what’s this all about?
God doesn’t stop evil from happening. That’s probably one
of the biggest human indictments against Him: He’s passive. The accusation is He
allows the wicked to get away with their wickedness and the rest of us (the
not-so-wicked) have to put up with it. But God is not passive, He’s patient.
And thank God for His patience. Otherwise, all of us, the wicked and the
not-so-wicked, are in deep weeds.
Part of what I see in this is God is very patient and
when I think He should act He
demonstrates His mercy by not acting.
I’m glad He is merciful and kind to me, and Idi Amin, and everyone else who
deserves justice and just gets mercy instead.
And mercy makes me think about God differently. I hear
words like wrath and vengeance being thrown around by some
who think God needs to do something. The problem with His wrath is once it gets
going there isn’t any stopping it until it’s finished. John 3.16 says: “For God so loved the world, that he gave
his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal
life." And well it should, because it shows God’s heart for the
underserving believing. But John 3.36 says: “Whoever
believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not
see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” The wrath of God is
irrevocable and implacable and doesn’t accept the pleas of: Please stop!
So, the day of reckoning will one day come and God,
who desires to make His wrath and power known, will release what He has in
store for those who’ve rejected His offer. The wrath that remains will come to
fruition on those who’ve said, “No thanks.”
But for those who’ve accepted – His vessels of mercy –
they’ll inherit the riches of His glory (His presence) up close and personal.
And they will know the full extent of His mercy by knowing His wrath was poured
out on those who willfully went their own way.
God doesn’t stop evil from happening but He does extend
mercy to those who will look past the evil of this world to a Being who has
offered us a different and better way. It’s because He is patient; and I am
speechlessly glad for that! Thank You Lord! His patience proves a point.
Father, may I walk well in Your peace and mercy this day
realizing that You will bring all things to their good and perfect end when You
save the vessels of Your mercy from the finality of Your wrath. I’m grateful
for Your mercy and patience today. Amen.
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