The Roman
Empire was one of the most powerful in history. There are still many things that
are in use from that time that stand as a testimony to its greatness (roads,
aqueducts, government structure, etc.). There was no other nation of people that
could have done to Rome what Rome did to itself. The Roman empire was not
conquered in a single battle. It was not overcome by any outside force until
Rome was overcome and set up for destruction by its own hand. The Roman Empire was
fractured by internal conflicts that gave an opportunity to outside forces to
take advantage and cause the final breakup. If Rome had not rotted from the
inside, they would not have fallen prey to forces from the outside. Open your
eyes America! Conflict is rotting our country from within, and China, Islam,
and lustful sin are the forces waiting at the door to finish off this great
free nation.
[2 Peter 3:9] One
of the greatest attributes of our Heavenly Father is, without a doubt, His longsuffering
toward sinful man. Peter told us, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise,
as some call slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any
should perish but that all should come to repentance.” It has been asked, “What
is the difference between ‘mercy’ and ‘grace’?” I have heard the following explanation.
‘Grace is where God gives us what we do not deserve; mercy is where God does
not give us what we deserve” All of humanity enjoys the benefits of God’s grace.
The very air we breathe, the sunshine each and every morning, and every good
gift that God gives in a physical way are a manifestation of His wonderful
grace. It was God’s grace that sent His son and provided instruction in the way
of salvation (Titus 2:11). It was God’s grace that established the church and
demonstrated the manifold wisdom of God. It is God’s grace that allows men
another opportunity to repent and obey the gospel, even when they are living in
open rebellion. On the other hand, it is God’s mercy that delays the sending of
His Son. Justice cries out for divine vengeance, but God delays, and in His delay,
men are provided yet another access to the wonderful blessing of God. It is God’s
mercy that will eventually allow all of the redeemed to escape the punishment
of His wrath.
When grace and
mercy are combined a most wonderful picture emerges. When writing his letter to
the church in Rome the apostle Paul chastised the rebellious Jews and reminded
them, “Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and
longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”
(Romans 2:4). The ‘riches of His goodness’ bespeaks God’s amazing grace, while
God’s forbearance and longsuffering point us to His great mercy. The purpose of
God’s grace and mercy toward mankind is not that mankind might continue in
rebellion in hopes that some day everyone will, by some magical and mystical formula,
be allowed to enter into the home prepared for the redeemed, but God’s grace
and mercy are designed to ‘lead to repentance’ fulfilling that mankind obey His
will. The longsuffering of God is not a bottomless pit wherein He will continue
to tolerate the foolishness of men. Longsuffering is being extended in view of
the fact that there may be a few men and women with tender hearts that can be touched
by the Gospel. Only God the Father knows when the gavel will sound, and time
will be no more. When that moment arrives, God’s patience will have been
exhausted, and all of mankind will witness the coming of the Lord in judgment.
A.I.
(Artificial Intelligence), essentially a computer program, is increasingly
dictating how mankind is to live. It has already declared itself to be a god, has
avatar’s preaching, and is rewriting God’s Word. Do you think God is ready and
willing to be replaced?
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