“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some
understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to
perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
II Peter 3:9
Our Pastor, in a Sunday message, made a
statement that is worthwhile to consider here today.
In talking about mercy he said: “You have to get past
the cross to get to hell.”
In other words, you must totally bypass God’s
provision
of love and mercy available because of the cross.
Calvary is the greatest expression of God’s love and
mercy.
It is a love and mercy which excludes no one.
Jesus’ work was a complete work and made it possible
for all to be brought back into fellowship with God. While the way has been
provided, unbelievably, it remains an option some don’t take.
You see the other thing about God’s love is that it
will not coerce you.
It will provide and it will draw but it will not force
and it will not conscript you against your will.
Many miss out, not because God’s love is not big
enough or His redemption not available to all, but because they refuse the
offer.
For some, pride keeps them from accepting; for others
it may be religious tradition or the ‘foolishness’ of the preaching of the
cross. In any event they manage to march past the cross and all that it means
straight into hell and then many declare God could not possibly be a loving God
to “send” people to hell. The truth is God “sends” no one to hell.
His mercy and love make it harder to go to hell than
it is to stay out of it.
His heart is a heart of mercy.
He will always counsel you to choose His life and His
provision.
Commit today’s verse to memory so that the next time
you are
challenged concerning God’s mercy you can
encourage yourself and others with that verse.
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