Abusing the Mercy of our God

Advent Messenger | Editorial

Godliness and lawlessness is quickly reaching its limit in the land. Soon God’s mercy and longsuffering will come to and end and we have been told that it is only through an entire consecration and dedication of our lives that we will be able to get through to the end. This consecration must begin by seeking to honor God first in our lives and then to seek the salvation of souls.

“We are standing on the threshold of the crisis of the ages. In quick succession the judgments of God will follow one another—fire, and flood, and earthquake, with war and bloodshed. We are not to be surprised at this time by events both great and decisive; for the angel of mercy cannot remain much longer to shelter the impenitent.” Prophets and Kings, p. 278.

“We are coming to a crisis which, more than any previous time since the world began, will demand the entire consecration of every one who has named the name of Christ.” Gospel Workers, p. 323.

“The true worker for God wrestles with God in prayer, and puts intense earnestness into the work of saving lost souls...Heavenly intelligences can work with the man or woman who will not absorb the glory to himself, but who will be willing that all the glory shall redound to the honor of God.” Lift Him Up, p. 358

God’s mercy and longsuffering was proclaimed before handing Moses the 10 Commandments on Mt. Sinai. As God gave the principles of truth, justice, and righteousness, He also declared to us that He is the God of mercy.

"And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children’s children, unto the third and to the fourth generation." Ex. 34:6, 7

We praise God for His Holy character. We need God’s mercy when we plead forgiveness before His throne. We need to ever be grateful for His mercy when we repent of our shortcomings. It is only by His grace and mercy that we can enter into a relationship with Him; a relationship that is based on obedience to His commandments. How many of us have had occasion to thank the Lord for His mercy?

Yet we must always keep in mind that there is a limit to the mercy of God. And as we look at the conditions of our world and how sinners are becoming more and more bold in their transgressions, we can clearly see that we are rapidly reaching the end of God’s forbearance.

“In every age there is given to men their day of light and privilege, a probationary time in which they may become reconciled to God. But there is a limit to this grace. Mercy may plead for years and be slighted and rejected; but there comes a time when mercy makes her last plea. The heart becomes so hardened that it ceases to respond to the Spirit of God. Then the sweet, winning voice entreats the sinner no longer, and reproofs and warnings cease.” Desire of Ages, p. 587.

Many will sadly realized that there is a limit to God’s forgiveness only after it is too late.

“For ye know how that afterward, when he [Esau] would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.” Hebrews 12:17.

We should be grateful and appreciative of God’s grace and mercy, but never can we presume that we can’t abuse the longsuffering and compassion of God.

His mercy and grace is designed to bring us to repentance that we may receive forgiveness; and not to encourage us to continue to live a life of sin and rebellion. We must use the grace of God to grow from glory to glory.

“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18.

May God help us to make an entire consecration to God before the door of mercy is shut. And may God help us to reach souls before it’s too late. Amen!