2023_02_01 Insight Post- Rusty Coram
This week’s reading- Psalm 51, Romans 8, 2 Peter 3
So far this year, during our reading, we have seen how deliberately God went about creating the universe and the multitude of its components – inanimate and living. The high point of all He made is humans, men and women. Humans are created in His image, but it didn’t take long to see that we are not perfect. Early on, the first man and woman deliberately chose to disobey God to do what they thought was best, and the results have brought pain and sorrow ever since.
God had every right to utterly wipe-out His creation. However, when He flooded the earth, He saved one family to give humanity another chance. Though not perfect, Noah did love and walk with God, and through him and his family, the world was repopulated. God promised to not judge the earth again by sending a flood but has made it clear that there is coming a time when history will end and there will be a final judgment for all.
In the meantime, the world has its beauty, but it is horribly damaged by sin. Some see the horrors of sin, evil, and suffering as a sign that there is no God or, if there is one, He is unable or unwilling to do anything. The Bible tells us that He is deliberately holding off on a final judgment for a very specific reason.
“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” 2 Peter 3:9 (NLT)
God is the one who has been the most disrespected by our sin, yet He has chosen to hold off on eradicating what is unholy in order to rescue more people. His patience is overwhelming. He is perfect and holy, yet He is willing to let the disease of sin continue longer just so He can save more. Once the judgment comes, all sin will be destroyed, along with all people who have not repented and surrendered to God. As I have focused on this truth, the old translation of the Greek word for patience has been in my mind: “long suffering.” It means to hang in there for a little longer and not give up. In God’s case, we are the beneficiaries. When we choose to “hang in there” with people around us, it may be when we are most like our Heavenly Father.
Rusty Coram
Senior Pastor