MERCY

Imagine if you will, the ominous sight of smoke columns rising in the distance. The thunderous roar of heavy munitions fire is accented by the concussion of artillery as it slams into the earth.    Battle cries direct us to the exact spot where deadly skirmishes are being waged as mortal enemies engage in close quarters combat in an attempt to annihilate one other.    

Now, as you may have surmised, I am using this depiction of actual physical warfare as an example so that I may direct your attention to the real conflict we are engaged in which is with Satan on the battlefield of spiritual wickedness.   Understand that this brawl is a continuous confrontation where the wicked one is not holding back one bit because his aggression against us is fueled by pure hate.  He is a dirty opponent and considers everything and everyone as fair game. Make no mistake, the lines are drawn and the fight is on.     

Knowing this, we understand that he has, as he did in the very beginning, launched a crafty campaign of disorder and disinformation that he has designed to channel us into the dark and dreary depths of destruction.   And he’s had a lot of practice. So keep your eyes open because, as many have sadly found out, he is certainly capable of manipulating you in such a deceptive manner that you may not even know that he has you drifting towards a really bad place.   A terrifying place that was actually developed for him and his demons.  A place of everlasting torment.   A place of separation from God.   A dreadful place described by Jesus when He said,   “…Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels…”   (Matthew 25: 41)     A place where all evil ones will inescapably end up, starting with Satan and his cronies.   “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.”   (Revelation 20: 10)

But before he can trick us into being banished to perdition’s pool of pain that has been preserved for him and his pals, he’s got to trick us here while we still walk the earth.   To make his trick work he has crafted a cunning plan which he hopes will, pay close attention to this, create separation among the brethren.   This is critical because if he can separate us from each other, he knows that he can reach his ultimate evil goal which is for us all to be separated from God. Jesus warned Peter of this very thing when He said,  “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.”   (Luke 22: 31)    

And if there is anything that can destroy a church and its collective and individual relationship with God, it’s division among the brethren.   In fact, this dissension is what I call the 7^th Wonder of the Underworld.   An abomination that God Himself hates.   “These six things doth the LORD hate:  yea, seven are an abomination unto Him:   A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,   An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,   A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.”   (Proverbs 6: 16-19)     

Even the Apostle Paul recognized the potential dangers of this particular type of demonic behavior which, according to scripture, demanded targeted action.   “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned;  and avoid them.   For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly;  and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.”  (Romans 16: 17-18)   Paul knew that our enemy is easily able to accomplish his goals and objectives by stirring up negative emotions in people, prompting them to pump out the poisonous pellets of allegation, accusation, denunciation and condemnation.   He knows this because our flesh is attracted to these things. Yes, our flesh wants to be irritated, it wants to hold a grudge, it wants to spew venom and it wants to lash out.   

Words of truth ask this question,  “From whence come wars and fightings among you?  come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?”  (James 4: 1)     Our adversary wants to control us into being on the lookout to seize every opportunity to complain about someone or criticize each other or be offended by something.    He wants us to fight against each other instead of fighting against him.   He wants to keep us distracted so we won’t do what we should do which is to  “Submit yourselves therefore to God.   Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”   (James 4: 7)

He strives to incite disagreement which can metastasize into full-fledged fault-finding, hoping that this will lead to feelings that are devoid of brotherly affection, arousing anger and resentment which is not conducive to unity.   And when this happens, the chances of even Brothers and Sisters in Christ being on one accord are greatly diminished, if not destroyed.    The wisdom of Proverbs lays it out very plainly.   “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city:  and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.”   (Proverbs 18: 19)

And we’ve seen the inevitable results of  “not being on one accord”  documented early in the Bible with the situation between Cain and Abel.   We’ve seen it with Jacob and Esau.   We’ve seen it with Joseph and his brothers.   Jesus Himself recognized the threat this posed and taught us the necessity of a speedy reconciliation when disagreement has devolved into dislike.  “Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;  Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way;  first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.”   (Matthew 5: 23-24)

Does this mean we are to ignore all bad behavior or not to acknowledge obvious transgressions for fear of offending someone and upsetting the delicate balance of harmony and fellowship?    God forbid!   We are helpers one of another and call on the Lord to lead us when we need to correct certain conduct.   However, we must use heavenly wisdom when doing so.   So first of all, pray!    And then that godly wisdom will guide you not only in what to do, but how to do it and when to do it.    Think about  1 Corinthians 6: 12  where it says,   “All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient…”     In other words, something may be allowed but it may not be helpful.    Or better still,  “just because you can, doesn’t mean you should.”     And if it does become necessary, it must only be done from a place of love, remembering that every one of us is subject to fits of carnality.    “Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness;  considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.”   (Galatians 6: 1)    

Remember that no matter what a person has done, realize that though we may not have personally committed the exact same offense, we’ve done something wrong somehow, somewhere at some time in some way to someone.   "Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others." (Ecclesiastes 7: 21-22)  “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?   Be not deceived:  neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,  Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.  And such were some of you…”   (1 Corinthians 6: 9-10)      But though we’ve all fallen short, God extended us His mercy anyway.   And oh, what manner of mercy it was!   You were filthy, but now, because of Him,  “…ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.”   (1 Corinthians 6: 11)    

And why were we extended this mercy from God that endures forever?   What is it that prompts the Creator of the universe to be so willing to exonerate us from the punishment that we so rightly deserve?    Love.   Unconditional love.   Love in action.  His love.     “But God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”   (Romans 5: 8)    Therefore we have no business pridefully or contemptuously judging one another because God is no respecter of persons and no one is any better than anyone else.   “What then?  are we better than they?   No, in no wise:   for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin;   As it is written,  There is none righteous, no, not one…”  (Romans 3: 9-10)  

And this has nothing to do with whether we’re talking about Old Testament versus New Testament application, the Law versus Grace and Truth or pre-Pentecost versus post-Pentecost positions.   It is a cold, hard fact and an eternal truth that has been scripturally preserved in both antiquity and up to the present age:   “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.”   (Ecclesiastes 7: 20)     “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God….”  (Romans 3: 23)      And that is the great equalizer because there is nothing that we can do about our wretched condition because the realm of changing hearts and forgiveness of sins rests with God and God alone.   “Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?”  (Proverbs 20: 9)    No one.   A terrible predicament!   Who can save me from myself?     “O wretched man that I am!   who shall deliver me from the body of this death?”    (Romans 7: 24) 

Glory to God that He has prepared for us the path to perfection that leads us to the blessed place of forgiveness and righteousness by sending His Son to be the atoning sacrifice that cleanses us from our sin and causes a great change in us.   A change that transforms us from a defensively adversarial posture to a peaceful and pleasant demeanor, renewed by the refreshing and revitalizing inspiration of the Holy Ghost.   As the Psalmist David wrote,   “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness:  according unto the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.  Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin…Create in me a clean heart, O God;  and renew a right spirit within me…Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation;  and uphold me with Thy free spirit.”  (Psalm 51: 1-2, 10 &12)

So even if someone has done something wrong, let us resist the urge to be hyper-critical or overly punitive.   This doesn’t help us to walk in the Spirit as we have been commanded, it only fuels the self-centered flames of our flesh. Instead of engaging in the pointing of the finger, endeavor to dispense some love and compassion.   God’s Word tells us that before we accuse another of something, we need to take a good, hard look in the mirror and handle the unfinished business with the person looking back at us.   “And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?  Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye;  and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?  Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.”   (Matthew 7: 3-5)

Every action we take should be geared toward glorifying God and helping others.   Our objective is not exclusion, but restoration.   Our goal is not punishment, but rest in redemption and safety in salvation.   And don’t be fooled into being upset with someone just because someone else is upset with them.    That’s not how we as Christians are supposed to be conducting ourselves.   “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”   (John 7: 24)     And this type of judgement can only occur if we are being  “…kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”   (Ephesians 4: 32)    

Scripture condemns unrighteous judgement saying,  “Judge not, that ye be not judged.   For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged:   and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”  (Matthew 7: 1-2)      So tread cautiously and judge righteously with humility and self-reflection, willing to dispense mercy and grace while remembering this:   “For He that said, Do not commit adultery, said also, Do not kill.   Now if thou commit no adultery, yet if thou kill, thou art become a transgressor of the law.   So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty.   For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy;  and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”   (James 2 11-13) Even literature from books of the Apocrypha gives wise counsel in this area:  “Before judgment examine thyself, and in the day of visitation thou shalt find mercy.”    (Sirach 18: 20)    Sensible advice indeed. So let us each examine ourselves as our Bible instructs us.

And it’s not like we don’t know what to do because God has shown us.   “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good;  and what doth the LORD require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”  (Micah 6: 8) Just like Jesus, we must always do things that are pleasing in our Father’s sight.   “To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.”   (Proverbs 21: 3)

Remember the story of the unforgiving servant in  Matthew 18: 21-35?     He and his whole family were about to be sold into slavery for being unable to pay for what was his lawful obligation.   But he begged and was shown mercy for the debt he owed. However, there was no compassion shown by him to another servant that owed him a much smaller debt, who also begged for mercy.  

I love the response of the overseer who, when he found out about the lack of sympathy from the evil servant said,  “O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:  Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?   And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.”   Jesus beautifully summed up this parable that he told by issuing this fearful warning:   “So likewise shall My heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.”

God is trying to purify us but we must allow ourselves to be purified by submitting to His efforts to mold us into the glorious people we should be in spite of being entrenched in the pollutions of this world.   So, control your thoughts.   “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report;  if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”  (Philippians 4: 8)    Control your tongue. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”  (Ephesians 4: 29)    Guard your heart and be the vessels of righteousness God has created you to be in every instance and encounter.   He knows our frame, that we are just dust.   But He created this dust, and He loves His dust that He created and we love Him, our Creator.   “But now, O LORD, Thou art our Father;  we are the clay, and Thou our Potter;  and we all are the work of Thy hand.”   (Isaiah 64: 8)

Let the example we follow be not that of anyone on earth but of He that dwells in heaven.   “For Thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive;  and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon Thee.”   (Psalm 86: 5)    Frustrate that devil by conducting yourselves like fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God who are  “…built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the Chief Corner Stone;   In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:   In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”   (Ephesians 2: 20-22)

Jesus is trying to encourage us to wholeheartedly join in on mutual loving fellowship as He did with Peter when He said,  “But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not:  and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.”  (Luke 22: 32)    And this blessing from God extends to us all and empowers us to abide in the heavenly realm of His consecrated community where He says, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!   It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard:   that went down to the skirts of his garments;   As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion:   for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.”   (Psalm 133: 1-3)

I pray that what we have heard will embolden us to make the effort to engage the world less and focus more on giving God the glory, worshipping His majesty and proclaiming His everlasting goodness as we say,   “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:   According as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love:  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,  To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein He hath made us accepted in the beloved.  In whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace…”    (Ephesians 1: 3-11)

Now let us all affectionately draw ourselves together, being willing and cheerful dispensers of God’s mercy.    May   “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all.  Amen.”   (2 Corinthians 13: 14)