Life!

Life!

For His anger is but for a moment, but His favor is for a lifetime or in His favor is life. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5 AMPC

David who wrote the words of today's extract would relate well to the words. Here is a man who had done so many things, bad and good. Adultery and murder were just a few, but there was something he never lost: an understanding of who God is and what He offers all who come to Him. This lesson is central to all who will come to God: you don't have to pretend to be good; you only just have to make the approach. God hates sin; but there is no doubting His love and affection for all He has created.

It was sin that changed the landscape in the Garden of Eden and it is sin that runs through the entire world now. But it is also God's favour that keeps us from being consumed. God promises punishment for sin but He also promises mercy and forgiveness when there is genuine repentance. Let no man deceive you into thinking that God is too nice to destroy a soul in hell; if God could give up his own Son as a sacrifice for sin, and look away from Him while he hung on the tree bearing the shame of our sin, imagine how God views sin and what will happen to all who choose to remain in sin.

Sin is temporary; favour is eternal. Sin comes with anger; favour comes with life. If I realise I am in sin, and I genuinely repent, God promises light and joy. If indeed I return to God, weeping will only be for a season; joy is always be the result of God's intervention in human affairs. If I remain in sin, death is inevitable. As always, for whatever choice I make, the consequences are made clear. As always, there's no fence here: you are either on the side of his anger or his favour. Choose wisely; his time of favour is here.