All My Purpose!

**“Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’” (Isaiah‬ ‭46:8-10‬ ‭ESV).‬‬**

I’ll admit that from time to time I grow a bit impatient for God to deal with all of the injustice in the world. I languish over a world that seems to grow worse everyday. They reject God and mock those who follow Him. They never seem to tire of taking advantage of the poor. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Good people suffer from agonizing and deadly diseases and cancers while the wicked seem to prosper.

Jeremiah understood. “Righteous are you, O Lord , when I complain to you; yet I would plead my case before you. Why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all who are treacherous thrive (Jeremiah 12:1 ESV)?

There are so many who refuse faith in God because all of these things are true. They refuse to believe because they don’t see the Lord’s justice. They look out and see human trafficking and the sex trade. They see politicians taking advantage of their constituency to line their own pockets. They see corruption in law enforcement, companies laying off or firing long-time employees because they can pay new employees less, gender and racial inequality. I could go on and on.

“…that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles, knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. They will say, ‘Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation.’ For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly. But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:2-9).

I don’t often quote scripture at such great length in this blog, as I endeavor to keep my posts at a quick-read length. But these verses seem to find new life in this 21st century. Sure, each generation from the early days of the 1st century recognized and identified with the reality of these verses contemporarily. It seems like things get continually worse, just when we think they couldn’t.

But I take great comfort in the last verses from each of our major scripture passages. Isaiah 46:10, reminds us that _everything_ that God has promised, every prophecy of scripture, _**will be fulfilled**_. Our faith and our hope is not in vain. There will be a resurrection of the just, those who have trusted in Christ. There will be judgment on the wicked….

That last bit feels good on the tip of my tongue, but doesn’t go down quite as well. Why? Well, I was wicked and deserving of judgment. _You_ were wicked and deserving of judgment. Despite my heart’s longing for justice here on earth for all those who have need of it, I am eternally grateful for 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, _but is patient toward you_, not wishing that any should perish, but _that all should reach repentance_” (_emphasis mine_).

I long for the day that there is justice. I long for the day when we no longer struggle with our sins or the sins of others. But even more than that, I long for those who are in need of God’s mercy to find Him before it’s too late. Please join me in spending time each day this week (and hopefully every day after that!) praying for the lost, that sands of time would not run out on them before they come to know Him.

Blessings on your week!