Never again will I destroy all living creatures as I have done (Genesis 9:11)

The context of this morning’s quote from Genesis 9:11, is of the Lord , covenanting with Noah about withholding future deserved judgement. Without wanting to make too much of this, I could not help noticing this morning the verse numbers 9:11. What it did, was to remind me of the type of prophecy of judgement that we hear over and over. In particular in the mind of these prophets 9/11, Hurricane Katrina and the various tsunamis and earthquakes etc., are seen as God’s judgement on the earth. But the fact of the matter is (skipping to the back of the book), that we are now living in the age of Grace. And in this day of Grace God’s message to this wicked and hurting world is “that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them” (2 Corinthians 5:19).

As the context of the quote below makes very, very clear, it’s not that there is no longer a day of reckoning. No, but rather it is that judgement is delayed because “God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). Kris Volloton tells of many of the same prophets who interpreted the above disasters as God’s judgement, also made dire predictions of events that did not come to pass. They then quietly withdrew their predictions when they didn’t happen. Such prophets do not understand what spirit they are of (Luke 9:55). The Lord knew He was taking a risk in withholding judgement until the last day, for “in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised” (2 Peter 3:3, 4)? In fact the kindness of God and His extravagant love is intended to lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4; 5:8).

How shall we , who know and love the Lord, then live? Well, we need to come against evil in the opposite spirit. We read “as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good (Romans 12:18-21).

Father, what You call to it is impossible without You. But with You all things are possible. But Lord, the suffering You call us to at times, is nothing compared with what You went through for us in sending Your Son. Father You tell us that “the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare” (2 Peter 3:10). In view of this, the only safe place is for us is to stay close to the burning flame of Your love. Father purge from us everything that hinders our being true witnesses to Your amazing Glory and Grace. And we will give You all the honour and glory and praise in Jesus Name Amen