Feb18

"The LORD is slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit the
wicked: the LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the
clouds are the dust of his feet." Nahum 1:3

God had sent Jonah to Nineveh to tell them that they were to be destroyed
because of their terrible sin. They were known as the most brutal and sinful
people in the ancient world, and God said that judgment would come to them.
But then the entire city of Nineveh repented and turned to God. Obviously,
the message which Jonah delivered, penetrated the entire empire, and there
was a great change. However, it didn't last very long. Nahum says that "God is
slow to anger, but this great city of Nineveh returned back to its old ways.
One hundred years after Jonah, Nahum comes to tell them that there is no
longer any delay ~ Judgment is coming!

"The LORD . . . will not at all acquit the wicked." The justice of God is seen
in His judgment because He is slow to anger. It took Him one hundred years
to get around to executing judgment against Nineveh, and He is just and
righteous in doing it! He is not going to let the wicked off ~ not then and not
now ~ unless they turn to Him! Unless they accept Christ as their Savior,
because He paid the penalty for their sins, they will have to be judged for their
ins. God is not going to let anyone off ~ He is just and righteous.

Forgiveness of God is quite different from our forgiveness of others. When
God forgives, the penalty has already been paid. God is the judge of this earth.
He is not only its Creator, He is not only running it, but He is also the moral
ruler of this universe. God is also not a crooked judge. You cannot slip Him
something under the table, or make vain promises to Him, or even entice Him
with good works! You just cannot deal with God like that. God must judge the
wicked, and we are all told that the heart of man is desperately wicked ~ not
just a little wicked, but desperately wicked (see Jeremiah 17:9). We cannot
know the depths of the iniquity that is in our hearts ~ we do not know what
we are capable of. Now God cannot acquit the wicked. Therefore, if we are
going to be acquitted, someone must pay the penalty. That is the reason He
has provided a Redeemer for us. When the nation or the individual turn their
back on God's redemption provided now in Christ, then judgment must follow
because there is no other alternative.

"The LORD hath his way in the whirlwind and in the storm, and the clouds
are the dust of his feet." God today, moves even in nature. The storms which
come are under His control, and they serve His purpose. Everyone talks about
Mother Nature having her ways, but I tell you, He tells Mother Nature what it
is that will be done! Our God is the Creator, and He is the Redeemer, and He
is also the Judge! He is running things folks! And we need to just leave it all in
His hands, and rest in Him, because He is good, He is gracious, and He is the
Savior!

God is slow to anger, but when He is ready for punishment, the earth will
most definitely tremble folks! Those of you who are Christians, avoiding God
for one reason or another, please be mindful of how God gives His true
followers time to share His love and truth with others. He also gives evildoers
time to seek Him, BUT He will NOT allow sin to go on forever! If you should
wonder why God does not punish sin immediately throughout the world in
each and every human being, remember that if He did, none of us would be
here! Think about it.

May God bless you with a wonderful week as you give thanks to Him for the
ample "time" He gives you in your daily lives.

Love in Christ Jesus, Sandy

"Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord!"