Mercy On Display

"The truth is, we cannot affect Him, but He affects us."

HE STOOD (Satan stood) in the Throne Room amidst the stones of fire, there where an array of colors surrounded the throne. In the glory and power of the Lord, he worshipped, speaking praises for the Creator of all. “What is man, that thou art mindful of him?” asks the Psalms. “For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour (Psalm 8:4-5).” The word, there, translated “angels” is the same word, “elohim,” used in Genesis 1, meaning Gods. It can man foreign gods, idols and fictional beings who are worshipped (There is only one living God), but in this case, it speaks of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit who in the beginning created all things. And in Psalm 8:5, it means “angels,” in the prophecy about Jesus Christ. He was born as man in a human body to Mary who was married to Joseph, a carpenter from Nazareth.

The question is one spoken from David. As in other psalms, he spoke of the Messiah to come. But the question is given him by the Spirit to point our gazes at the cross. A man without the Spirit living in him heard the Voice of the Spirit. Such is the case for Isaiah and Jeremiah and the prophets, for Abraham who held conversation with Him, and Moses who spent time in God’s Presence on the mountain. There, too, is Paradise where Abraham’s bosom held those awaiting the Resurrection of Christ (Luke 16:22;Luke 23:43). It was to Paradise that Jesus took the thief who died on a cross beside him. These were all unsaved, as we’d say in modern church lingo, but are now in heaven. Yet some say unless a man is born again, he will not see the kingdom of God (John 3:3). Yes and no.

God is merciful. In his visit to heaven, Minister Jesse Duplantis witnessed God’s mercy to some who spent time among the trees which grew along the river. These people must grow stronger to see the Throne, he said. Satan, in the book of Job, was called before the Almighty because of his interest in Job’s life. It says he went out from the Presence of God, meaning he had to enter it to be there. I recall the testimony of a girl who approached the gates of heaven, after an attempted suicide, and was returned to earth, completely healed, so that she could accept Christ’s salvation. There is also Minister Kenneth E. Hagin’s story of protesting he was part of the church as he descended toward hell. He, too, returned to earth and went on to have a major ministry. We don’t know what happens to those who have mental trauma nor in mass murders such as the Holocaust. It isn’t good to speculate, but as Minister Duplantis said, “God is merciful.” He values even the smallest animal’s life (Luke 12:6).

Satan, we are told, exalted himself above God, or attempted to. I find the words of Hebrews 1 especially sharp in this regard, for he is a created being, a fallen angel. Hebrews 1:5 says, “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?” And then we must read verse 13: “But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?” The answer to both questions is “none.” Yet, that is the position Satan tried to take, and Jesus said, “I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven (Luke 10:18).” His sin got him kicked out, and he lost everything. There can be no sin in the Presence of God. This means any who go there are free of it, truly God’s mercy on display. How did Satan present himself before God then in Job 1:6? Well, the Holy Spirit lives on the earth with us and, as His name says, He is holy. He hears all conversation among men and supernatural beings, much of it ungodly. He remains holy. The truth is, we cannot affect Him, but He affects us. He cleanses us and renews our thinking, strengthens and upholds us, in ways we aren’t aware of. He knows the finest details of our lives, down to our inmost being. Psalm 139 says He is even in hell, that the darkness is light to Him. My point is as the Scripture says: “For with God nothing shall be impossible (Luke 1:37).” Nothing means NOTHING.

Two people who had visions of heaven were asked the same question, neither one having anything to do with the other in any way. Both were asked who they saw there that would surprise us, and both grimaced and said, “I’m going to get in trouble for this.” They did not name the same popular figure but were sincere in what they said, and their matching remarks substantiated each other, unknowing to them. Another in a vision of hell talked of who she saw and how the true misery is a continual replay of your life, seeing in it what you should have done. This just makes me say, God is truly merciful because He will, one day, end all death and sorrow forever (Revelation 21:4). He will not “battle it out” with demonic ideology to accomplish it, but will speak, as He did in Genesis, “Life be,” and, “No more death,” and it will be done.

We can know this about Him and apply it to who He is in our everyday lives today. Unless you understand mercy, you will never truly know Him. All the places we apply doubt to His motive separate us from full revelation of God and thus prevent spiritual growth. Unless we grow up, we will not understand His ways and thus will give ourselves unneeded misery, when He is so much better than our minds can comprehend.

“Friendship with the Lord is reserved for those who fear him. With them he shares the secrets of his covenant.” (Psalm 25:14 NLT paperback)

“For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth. He has removed our rebellious acts as far away from us as the east is from the west.” (Psalm 103:11-12 NLT paperback)

“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;” (John 14:16)

Image by Nanne Tiggelman from Pixabay


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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com