“And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect’s sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.” (Mark 13:20)
Can you see the mercy in that statement? Can you see the same mercy in the Tribulation period, when pain, suffering and death will be the normal way of life? “And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh is come before me; for the earth is filled with violence through them; and, behold, I will destroy them with the earth.” (Gen. 6:13) I have always contemplated those words from the Lord, in my mind they infer that something from somewhere appeared before the Lord, which is the best my finite mind can describe it, and what came before Him came to pass, everything that drew breath died, save for those in the ark.
The days that we are in are considered by many as the end section, or time, of the last days, they are known as the beginnings of sorrows, (Matt. 24:8) but they could just as well be called “The continuation of mercies,” “For His mercy endureth forever” is recorded for us many times in the Scriptures, and it means just what it says, that the Almighty is continuously merciful. If He wanted to, every single planet everywhere would be as habitable as the earth, if He wanted to, there would be no sin, no Satan, no rebellion against His Holy name in any way, form or shape.
“And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.” (Luke 18:27) “For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.” (Matt. 24:21)
There is great mercy in the days of tribulation that are approaching, for the Most High is not going to wipe all life off of this planet, there is mercy in heaven, for the souls that He has created are permitted to be in the presence of His joy forever. (Psalm 16:11) There is mercy in hell, for they have been shown the truth. “Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?” (Psalm 139:7) Think about that, at the bottom of the ocean, in the middle of the sun, on the farthest reaches of the galaxy, God has not been there, He is there. It is by the mercies of God that all exists, it is for His pleasure. (Rev. 4:11) “For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.” (Malachi 3:6)
One of the most important words that I have been taught by the Holy Spirit is the word “Sovereign,” and the only One that is can be applied to. Everything everywhere is under the complete and total control of the Lord God, He is the only Supreme Authority, everything and everyone answers to God, and it is only by His mercies that we can answer. Nothing exists without Him. Here though is where love answers to mercy, it is His love that covers everything, it is His love for us that hung on that cross, it is love that drives us to Him, and it is love that obeys in all humility. Sovereignty, Mercy and Love, these are who we serve, all of them are embodied in the Lord God, He was Sovereign before the foundation of the earth, before anything was created, and He has allowed, for His own glory, and so that His mercy might be known, for the allowance of free will, so that if man or angels decides to rebel against His Sovereignty, they are allowed to do so.
Here, in the most feeble attempt to explain it, is the meaning of Psalm 82:6, “Ye are gods.” We have the same free will that God Almighty has, we are not bound to serve, we can choose to or not choose to. That is mercy, that is love. The coming days are filled with mercy, for the Sovereign Lord of all creation does not have to allow us to even take our next breath. It is sad to think that through immense pain and suffering, through great troubles and heartache is the only way that some will call upon Him for deliverance in the light of His Sovereignty. Mercy? “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” (Isaiah 1:18)
