They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy. Jonah 2:8
I wondered how much God protects my life through mercy and decided to explore contrasting words and concepts. Somehow I hope to gain insight and be drawn closer to the Savior. In Jonah “lying vanities” stand in juxtaposition to The Lord’s humble bowing in kindness toward undeserved ones made worthy. Only a lie — conceited, unsuccessful, useless, idle, worthless, foolish, silly — could negate or exclude the very nature of God Supreme. So mercy is opposite of my empty concepts.
Next, “Mercy rejoices against judgment” so teaches James 2:13. Sundering separation stands aloof from our mercy from God. A quote from Paul goes, “who can separate us from the love of Christ?” Romans 8:35 “tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” The list is just starting. “Death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature…”
So, Proverbs 16:6 relates, “By mercy and truth iniquity is purged.” Apparently “iniquity” also appears across the table from mercy. “Emotional rebellion against God’s authority,” can be purged by mercy combined with truth. Friends, vain and empty lies in our thoughts, feelings of separation or alienation, even eruptions of rebellion in our emotions are countered by mercy. O hallelujah !
And the words of Jesus speak loudly, “I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Matthew 9:13 Our sacrifices, sorry to say, are not akin to mercy. Also our guilt because of sacrificial-lack opposes mercy as a lying vanity. Beloved, mercy is never a reward for services rendered, but, is always given to undeserving. There is just no work that enables mercy except this one:
Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. “
Oh, “His mercies are new every morning,” Lamentations 3 teaches. This means I can daily discard my yesterday. Failures, wrong, faulty communications, hurtful or off-colored statements, thoughts of resentment or hatred etc. Etc. These all are blood-washed, brothers and sisters — we own them, but just as quickly dismiss them — we are forgiven and cleansed, as clean as the precious blood of Christ purged them at Calvary two thousand years ago.
Will God fix all the hurt we make? What if I can’t apologize? What if my apology is not received?
Dr. Carl H. Stevens, founder of our church relays a story, ” A woman in our church had a rough time
growing up. She had fears and subconscious effects that were always with her because of the
terrible things that consistently went on in her home. But during one service, she was completely delivered. None of those things have come back to hinder her. She didn’t have to go through a process—it was a miracle. She can no longer relate to any of the things that happened.”
In closing, some, “end up playing the same old games, feeling guilty in your moral light and moral integrity as you continue living in the effects of things that you have already confessed. God took care of those things. Though you’re free, you still refuse to accept your freedom. This, dear friends, is unbelief. Carl H. Stevens.
Our last point of discussion in “unbelief.” A lying vanity? An emotional rebellion? Perhaps it stems from the kingdom of darkness which opposes the Saints. Can it nullify mercy? No! Emphatically no. Beloved all of our authority in Christ founds itself in mercy. See Proverbs 20:28 Our entire life is derived and dependent on mercy. It has met together with truth to become the girdle of our loins. Psalm 85 and Ephesians 6
“If we believe not, yet He abides faithful, He cannot deny Himself.” 2Timothy 2:13 O, keep drawing nigh to the Savior till His love and grace and mercy saturates your being. He is a great High Priest, He loves us and has pity. He is touched with the feeling of our infirmity. He has made all thing new. Enjoy Him. Love ya
