Without Excuse, Saith the Scriptures -- Part 707

When will our hearts be steadfast with Him? Likewise, when will we become faithful in His covenant? Moreover, how often will we venture in our day to day journey -- sustained by our Lord God in terms of necessities -- but in the long run, deny the power and joy of the Lord in our lives? 

Admittedly, as believers in Jesus, we readily acknowledge that the heavens openly declare the glory of God. We admire that the skies proclaim the work of His hands, and that the law of nature -- in all its beauty -- is written everywhere for our eyes to behold. As the scriptures state, "He left not Himself without witness, in that He did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness." (Acts 14:17) 

Similarly, we understand that throughout the Biblical record, we see God's goodness and mercy displayed. In this context, how many times did Jesus heal those that had been sick from birth? Or, those that were afflicted with incurable infirmities? Even though we have willingly sinned against Him, God's love for His people is unconditional. He is not a respecter of persons. Neither does our Lord God and Saviour return good for good and evil for evil. The sunshine that fills the sky (in essence, the miracle of nature) are displayed for both the just and the unjust equally. Therefore, as the scriptures state, it is difficult to ignore His handiwork -- the intricacies that point directly to our Creator.

David, the psalmist wrote, "For their heart was not steadfast with Him, nor were they faithful in His covenant. But He, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and did not destroy them. Yes, many a time He turned His anger away, and did not stir up all His wrath; for He remembered that they were but flesh, a breath that passes away and does not come again." (Psalms 78:37-39)

And our heavenly Father does so time and time again. Not just for the Israelites but for you and I too. His beloved -- whom He loved from the beginning. 

"How oft did they provoke Him in the wilderness, and grieve Him in the desert. Yea, they turned back and tempted God and "limited" the Holy One of Israel. They remembered not His hand, nor the day when He delivered them from the  enemy. How He had wrought His signs in Egypt, and His wonders in the field of Zoan. And had turned their rivers into blood, and their floods that they could not drink. He sent diverse sorts of flies among them, which devoured them, and frogs, which destroyed them. He gave also their increase unto the caterpillar, and their labour unto the locust. He destroyed their vines with hail, and their sycomore trees with frost. He gave up their cattle also to the anthill and their flocks to hot thunderbolts. He cast upon them the fierceness of His anger, wrath, and indignation, and trouble, by sending evil angels among them. He made a way to His anger. He spared not their soul from death but gave their life over to the pestilence. And smote all the firstborn in Egypt, the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham. But made His own people to go forth like sheep and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. And He led them on safely, so that they feared not, but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. And He brought them to the border of His sanctuary, even to this mountain, which His right hand had purchased." (Psalms 78:42-54)

Since the establishment of the new covenant -- when Jesus shed His holy blood on the cross for our sins -- we have been given an opportunity to worship Him in spirit and in truth. An opportunity to take hold of the same God who created the heavens in the beginning -- and yet loved us enough to die on a cross that He ultimately created. In this context, we really are without excuse if we refuse to acknowledge the goodness and mercy of our Lord God and Saviour. 

Remember that while we were like sheep going astray, our Shepherd and overseer of our souls had already decided to give Himself as a sacrifice. (I Peter 2:25)

"For the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. Because that, when they knew God, they glorified Him not as God, neither were [they] thankful; but [rather, they] became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened." (Romans 1:20)

Let us then not limit our Lord God and Saviour in our lives today. Instead, let us take hold of His promises. Worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Acknowledge Him in all our ways. Acquire an inward desire to become more like Him. Read His Word. Stand in the offering plate.