April 2, 2017 (Proverbs 24:29)

“Do not say, ‘I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work'” (Prov 24:29). This proverb speaks to the heart of the grace and mercy by which we are saved. Righteousness and justice are absolute foundations of God’s character, and sin cannot be tolerated without justice, lest sin be permitted to dominate. Yet the sins of mankind are  such that none of us can do that required to satisfy the justice of our perfectly holy Creator. The only punishment which could be rendered to satisfy the justice of God was for God Himself to accept the punishment for what we all have done to profane the Godhead. Only because of Calvary can we escape what we deserve according to our works of sin. Yet to receive the mercy so desperately needed by each of us, we are then require to extend unconditional forgiveness to others. Unforgiveness is likely the greatest obstacle to life in the fullness of God’s blessings. And it goes even further than that. Unless we forgive others from the heart, we cannot receive from God which was paid for on the Cross by the Son of God. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But  if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:14,15). Do not let the adversary deceive you in this regard. Forgiveness of others is not optional, lest you spend eternity in the lake of fire with the devil and his angels.