Thursday, February 16, 2017
The Last Thing God Wants to Do
“As surely as I live, says the Sovereign LORD, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?”—Ezekiel 33:11
When the prophet Jonah very reluctantly went to the city of Nineveh and preached that God would judge them in forty days, the king of Nineveh repented of his sin and set an example for his subjects. All the people repented of their sin, and God’s judgment was lifted.
In the same way, God told the people during Noah’s time that judgment was coming, but 120 years passed before it happened.
The Bible says, “When a crime is not punished quickly, people feel it is safe to do wrong” (Ecclesiastes 8:11). If we get away with something, we may think we’ll never get caught. But one thing is certain: It may be ten years from now, it may be ten hours from now, or it may be ten minutes from now, but God will keep His word. We will reap what we sow. We can take that to the bank.
God is in no rush to judge us. But at the same time, there comes a moment when the hammer drops, when our number is up. Understand, God doesn’t want to judge us. He says, “I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live” (Ezekiel 33:11). The Bible also says that God “does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent” (2 Peter 3:9).
The last thing God wants to do is judge you. The last thing He wants to do is see you go to Hell. The last thing He wants to do is see your life wasted and thrown away. You were made in His image. He cares about you. And that is why He sent His own Son to die on the cross in your place and in mine.
Dig Deeper:
Today’s Radio Program
“God’s Plan for the Family–1”
This Week’s TV Program
“Real Love”
Today’s Bible Reading
Leviticus 26-27; Acts 23
Used by permission from Harvest Ministries with Greg Laurie, PO Box 4000, Riverside, CA 92514
