Why does God put up with sin?

Simply put, He endures with great patience those who are under His wrath in order to show mercy to some (Romans 9:22-25). He patiently endures sin to show maximum mercy to those He chose in Christ from before the foundation of the world. It brings Christ greatest glory for the greatest number of people to be praising the glory of His grace (Ephesians 1:3-6). All things were made by Him, through Him, for Him, after Him, and in Him all things hold together. He, through the cross, purposes to reconcile all things to Himself (Colossians 1:15-20).

Peace like a River

I have heard that line so many times. I have sung it. I have said it. Peace like a river. I have that kind of peace because of the Lord Jesus Christ and what He has accomplished at the cross and in saving my soul by grace through faith in Him. It is all for His glory.

Often I picture "peace like a river" as this gentle flowing stream of water that meanders through a lush valley, unencumbered, not in a hurry, tranquil, idyllic, almost other-worldly. A scene of serenity. I have seen some brooks and streams like that all over America and the world. But I have also seen raging rivers. Torrents of waters that rush headlong through ravines. Violent forces harnessed only by the banks within which they roam. Is this the kind of river that peace may be compared to? Most the time time I imagine the easiest of rivers. Not a deep or dangerous one.

Maybe the peace is more like a wild river than a docile one. I think of Jesus stilling the storm. Calming treacherous forces. Stronger than all. Therefore I have peace in Christ, from Christ, with Christ in every instance. In the midst of raging storms and times of calm. In every situation Jesus reigns sovereign and supreme. He is the source and the sustainer of peace in my life. As Jesus said "peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:27)

Holy Anticipation

God has done great things. God is doing great things. God will do great things.
He accomplished redemption at the cross of Christ. He is the sovereign Lord of the universe who always does what is good and right.
I am amazed in His presence. He had mercy of my soul and delivered me from the wrath of God through Jesus Christ.
He chose me before the world began, He predestined me to be conformed to the image of Christ.
He is at work in me to will and do His good pleasure. So I am eager to see what He does next. I am eager to see Him face to face.

Sovereign Savior 2

Sovereign Savior
Lord Jesus Christ
You're my deliverer
You are my life

My life You purchased with Your blood
The cross Your glory and my good

God's Prerogative

God is just and He is free to do as He pleases. All His ways are just and right. Romans 9:6 says "for He says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.'" The discussion of salvation and Christian growth lands squarely in the realm of God's prerogative. He chooses freely based on His predetermined plan. Romans 9:16 says "It depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy." It is by God's doing that I am in Christ. As 1 Cor. 1:30 says, "He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus."

It gives me great comfort knowing that I don't choose myself or keep myself a Christian. It is God's work. Being sinful, if it was mine I would mess it up. I surely could not initiate or sustain such wonderful, God-dependent things. It is also a source of amazing assurance that it all depends on God. And it is mind-boggling that He also chooses to use me as His instrument of righteousness for the good of others. He uses me as a conduit of His grace in my life, family, church and community. All praise goes to God for His marvelous grace. The Lord Jesus Christ, my Sovereign Savior, deserves all the credit.

OGK

There are some things that only God knows (OGK) until the time He chooses to reveal them. The Son of God was pleased to die for the sons of men whom He chose in Him before the foundation of the world. Election is backstory. It is what we find out later. At the point of conversion all we know is that we decided to follow. We wanted to believe. What only God knew until He chose to reveal it was that He first chose us. John15:6, "you did not choose Me but I chose you."

Sovereign Savior

Reigning King
My Savior stands
Above the fray
With outstretched hands

Pierced by the nails
The blood ran down
To cleanse my soul
My heart to own

Without the cross
I would not live
For Jesus Christ
My life I give

He spent it all
To set me free
His child I am
For eternity