Righteous God (Psalm 145:17)

Today's scripture: Psalm 145:17

We who follow the triune God—Father, Son, and Spirit—talk a lot about His being a God of love, grace, and mercy. And so He is. He loves us with an everlasting (Jeremiah 31:3). He offers us the unmerited favor of grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). He gives undeserved mercy (Luke 1:49-51).

Yet, we can never forget that He is holy and righteous. Holy is defined as "exalted or worthy of complete devotion as one perfect in goodness and righteousness"; further, righteousness is "acting in accord with divine or moral law" (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).

God's ways and thoughts are higher than ours, and He alone is truly holy and righteous, and it is because of His holiness that He cannot abide sin. He must therefore judge that sin.

Our God gives every opportunity for people to come to know Him. For some, He reveals Himself through "general revelation": His very creation (see Romans 1:18-20). For others, they hear truth through God's servants. In any case, those who seek God will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). Those who choose to follow Him experience that grace and mercy He showers so abundantly. Those who refuse to acknowledge Him as the one true God face judgment. He must separate Himself from them because His holiness and righteousness cannot exist with their sin.

Yes, God is loving, gracious, and merciful ... and kind. But He is also holy and righteous.

You can experience His love, His grace, His mercy.

Or you can face the rightful judgment of your holy and righteous God.

It's your choice ... but I pray you choose blessing over judgment. Choose to follow God. Choose to experience His grace and forgiveness.

Choose to serve your righteous God.

Hardened Hearts (Ps. 95:7b-11)

Today, if you will hear His voice:
“Do not harden your hearts, as in the rebellion,
As in the day of trial in the wilderness,
When your fathers tested Me;
They tried Me, though they saw My work.
For forty years I was grieved with that generation,
And said, ‘It is a people who go astray in their hearts,
And they do not know My ways.’
So I swore in My wrath,
‘They shall not enter My rest.’ ”
(Psalm 95:7b-11, NKJV)

God loves us, of that I’m certain. But make no mistake: God is holy and righteous, and He cannot abide sin. He will rightfully judge those who “harden [their] hearts.”

Relatively few people living on the earth today have the right to say they never heard of God and the sacrificial death of Jesus. A friend of mine recently heard from a representative from Wycliffe Bible Translators. By 2013, their team will begin translating the gospel into the languages of the remaining people groups. Within just a few years, every known language on earth will have a translation of the gospel.

Then there will be no one who will be able to say they never heard.

So why are there now—and will be then—so many who will not commit their lives to Christ? Just as the people of Israel did, many harden their hearts. They refuse to see the truth. They don’t want to give up control. They choose to follow their own will. They think the world offers more than God ever could.

And so, just as God rightfully judged the people of Israel by refusing to allow a generation to enter the Promised Land, so He will judge those who choose to not follow Him. He will honor their choice and allow them to remain separated from Him, and they too will not “enter into [His] rest”—eternity with Him in heaven.

You’ve heard God’s truth. You’ve heard the good news of Jesus Christ’s payment for the penalty of your sin. Have you hardened your heart? Oh please, hear me: Allow the Holy Spirit to soften your heart, and commit your life to your loving—and holy—heavenly Father.