To hear this Morning Devotion, please click God’s temporary grace
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While I was reading in Job 33 this morning, I was moved by how consistent God’s gracious nature has been for nearly 4,000 years of scripture.
I was taught in seminary that the book of Job is the oldest book in the Bible, written at roughly the same time that the patriarchs were living in Palestine.
That means that more than 100 generations of mankind have come and gone, leaving billions of sins in its wake yet never prompting God to forfeit His desire to love and forgive.
Listen to these words from Job 33:26-30 and you’ll see how God’s loving grace toward one seeking peace with God is the same yesterday, today and forever:
“He prays to God and finds favor with him, he sees God’s face and shouts for joy; he is restored by God to his righteous state.
“Then he (the seeker) comes to men and says, ‘I sinned, and perverted what was right, but I did not get what I deserved. He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light.’
“God does all these things to a man — twice, even three times – to turn back his soul from the pit, that the light of life may shine on him.”
We are told in 2 Peter 3:9 that God doesn’t want any soul to perish, but instead all people to find salvation.
I am grateful that God’s desire for restoration has thousands of years of history. I’m glad that the grace He showed in the days of Job is the same grace that He shows now to those who repent in order to not get with they deserve, whether in this life or the next.
I rejoice that I have the promise that my soul won’t anguish forever in the dark, fiery pit but instead will celebrate in the Light-filled halls of heaven.
When Jesus returns to take living and deceased Christians with Him to glory, the need for God’s grace will be no more.
For in heaven, there will be no sin. And that means that forgiveness will no longer be required.
I look forward to the day when I will no longer need God’s grace and will be blessed eternally by seeing God’s face.
Until that happens, I thank God that the offer made 4,000 years ago is still good for me today.
And I thank Him for the opportunities He places before me to tell others of God’s mercy in not giving me what I deserved, but instead redeeming my soul from the pit so that I might live to enjoy the Light.
I hope that you thank Him for the same.
As always, I love you
Martin
