The Reality of Mercy
I think we often have an inflated view of ourselves. I don’t think it’s difficult to see how this occurs when so many people believe they can work their way to Heaven. I came across this turn of phrase again recently and remembered how sad of a mindset it is: “Do your best, and let God do the rest.”
At first glance, there doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with this idea, but at closer inspection, we can see behind it this notion that we can somehow close the gap between our sin and God’s righteousness with a measure of hard work, and, that, once we are finished coming close by our own power, God’s power is sufficient to cover the final distance.
The fault, as always, lies on our prideful thoughts that, somehow, we have the ability to come close to God with human power. But even our very first act of drawing near to Him is originated in the work of the Holy Spirit, who reaches out to us in order to affect our whole selves in seeing the glory of the Lord. In the very first moment of the first step to salvation, the mercy of God works, for it is by no other power that we reach out to perfection but perfection Himself.
Psalm 130:3-4 says, “Yahweh, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be revered.”
Psalm 130:3-4 says, “Yahweh, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be revered.”
This idea, perpetuated in much scripture, is how we get the series of events that first, God moves; then, we accept His work. If God considered sins, none could stand, and we know that the sins of the nonbeliever are, indeed, considered, lest there would be no judgment. But His forgiveness, which He reaches out to us, gives us the platform to revere Him.
This is mercy, that forgiveness is outpoured, and in this outpouring, we may glorify Him by His Spirit, which draws us near to Him. The form and function are that God’s power covers the entire distance, and our only involvement in the process is crucifying ourselves for the Spirit to do His work.
Awaiting Dawn
The great news about mercy is that it’s new every morning. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning: great is Your faithfulness.” Psalm 30:5 says, “For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor, a lifetime. Weeping may spend the night, but there is joy in the morning.”
Pardon me for being so literal, but at each new dawn, there comes new mercy, there comes new grace, there comes new forgiveness for everything that happened in the darkness of night. There comes an abatement of righteous anger because the Lord is pleased to show favor to those He loves, if only we might find ourselves willing to wait through the night, watching for His mercy.
Psalm 130:5-6 says, “I wait for Yahweh; I wait and put my hope in His word. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning—more than watchmen for the morning.”
Psalm 130:5-6 says, “I wait for Yahweh; I wait and put my hope in His word. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning—more than watchmen for the morning.” Throughout history, the most terrifying, nerve wracking, and stressful time to be a guard is at night. Night is when the attacks come. Whether a guard is defending an encampment of soldiers and fears for a sneak attack, or even the prowling predator looking for a meal; watching over the walls of a city for enemy soldiers preparing to siege; or even a castle hoping to hold out a defensive position, he watches, trembling, hoping that nothing occurs before dawn. Because if it does, a battle is to come.
This is the image we see in Psalm 130. It’s not dissimilar from the ideas perpetuated in the The Parable of the Ten Virgins from Matthew 25 or the thief in the night from Matthew 25. We stand on guard as a soldier on a watchtower, waiting and hoping that our Savior comes.
When the Dawn Comes
Ephesians 6: 18 says, “Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.”
The reason we wait so attentively is because we know what the dawn means, what the arrival of the Savior means. In the night, there is the stress of keeping on guard. Ephesians 6: 18 says, “Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints.” This is the role of the guard on watch. He stays alert, interceding for all in the city, ensuring that no enemy may sneak in to harm the guard or the citizens within the walls.
But in the morning, when the dawn comes, the city awakens, and the light of the sun makes it easy to see what’s outside the walls. The defensive readiness of the city is no longer an issue because an attacker can be seen from miles away. There is no fear or worry that an enemy might be right at the gates.
The arrival of the Savior means the guard can relax. It means that we no longer have to worry about sin and the powers and principalities that perpetuate it. When the Savior makes His arrival, all evil will be washed away, unable to touch us. When redemption comes, when perfection comes, we can finally let down our guard and stop straining against the darkness for any sight of the prowling enemy. There will be no darkness, only light.
But until that day comes, we stand watch, persevering, hoping in His promise that He will come, awaiting the mercy that comes to us in the morning.