Even When

"Which is more mighty? A God who annihilates the wicked, or One who saves them?"

WE ACT like God’s attempt to woo people is mostly a failure. God is weak and silent, and sin is loud and powerful. We don’t see the power in peace. In subtle nuances of Spirit and love greater than sin. We say there are more unsaved than saved. We have condemned the Jews. We think evil has overwhelmed us, and God is not keeping up with it. After all, He wiped out the entire globe in the days of Noah’s flood, saving only eight people. Our perspective is wrong. Psalm 92:7 says that though “the wicked sprout like grass, and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed (BSB).” And we picture the death of people instead of peace consuming evil.

Psalm 93:1-2 speak to this in a picture. “The floodwaters have risen, O LORD; the rivers have raised their voice; the seas lift up their pounding waves. Above the roar of many waters— the mighty breakers of the sea— the LORD on high is majestic (BSB).”

Though the floodwaters have risen and the rivers and seas are loud, above all the noise is the LORD on high.

Which is more mighty? A God who annihilates the wicked, or One who saves them? Can God save the entire world, or is His arm too short? Too violent? We picture Him as Israel has, as a warrior. But He came as an infant, who needed care. And died at age 33, meek.

He was born King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2). He died King of the Jews (Mark 15:2,12,18,26,32). He was Christ in the manger, Christ when baptized by John, Christ when He preached the words of the prophet (Luke 4:18-19), Christ when they crucified Him, and Christ after physical death when He stood in Paradise (Luke 23:43). Peace didn’t come because He gained position or authority. He had that all along. It wasn’t the result of a victorious battle, except with Himself, to lay down His life.

We need to walk by faith in God. And stop our negative, devil-praising images of what looks like chaos to us. Our God, the living God of Israel, is shalom: safety, happiness, wellness, health, prosperity, peace (H7965). He made peace in Jesus. His declared ending is peace. No more sorrow, no more death (Revelation 21:4).

Let the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts, LORD, line up with your work here. Let us speak peace and trust you for the revelation of WHO you are, as peace, and WHAT your plan is, what it has been all long.

For He hasn’t changed. He removed violence from the earth with the flood, bringing peace. He waited patiently until only eight righteous people were left, and note, eight imperfect people. He removed the power of sin, the violence of it in us, when Jesus shed His blood, fulfilling the Jews’ covenant so that He could include us. All who believe in Him are forgiven and strengthened with His might (dunamis), who is the Spirit in the inner man (Ephesians 3:16). So making peace (Ephesians 2:15). God’s heart to save people is infallible. It isn’t just He has the WILL to do it, but that He is able, despite even the most hardened sin. He isn’t thrown around by our will. We are continually pulled toward His. He isn’t pulled askew by the weight of time. In Him, there is no what MIGHT happen. We need to trust Him in this. Even when everything looks like chaos, He is peace.

His peace wins.


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