Article: Everything Short of Hell is Mercy

[walla299]

Found this blog post in my feed this morning and it's a good reminder of God's mercy for all of us when we're confronted with life in a fallen world:

Quote

Everything short of hell is mercy. This one truth should change the way we view our hardships and frustrations, no matter how terrible they may be. If we, as sinners, are not facing the wrath of the infinitely Holy God at this moment, our life is better than we deserve. That is true for every Christian and non-Christian alive right now.

We tend to look at the pleasures we experience in this life and assume that is how it should be. We look at the life of an averagely happy person and think we deserve the same. That misleading assumption is spewed forth by the father of lies and exists for the sole purpose of causing our hard hearts to shake our fists at the God of grace when life does not meet our expectations.

Our ingratitude, alone, is sin enough to condemn us for all eternity. Yet here we sit, surrounded by so many pleasures of life and taking them for granted, as if God owes it to us. To help us keep things in perspective, here are a few things we may experience that are better than what we deserve.

• Cancer
• Poverty
• Betrayal
• Depression
• Prison
• Loss of Loved Ones
• Blindness
• Persecution
• Ridicule
• Conflict at work
• Catching a cold
• Loss of a Presidential election
• Traffic
• Fuel Prices
• A long line at the grocery store
• Spotty wifi
• Being on hold with the internet company for 20 minutes
• A delayed online delivery
• Going to work tired
• Someone saying something upsetting to us on social media
• A sermon being a little dry
• The worship leader singing a song we do not like

It is incredible how much time we can spend complaining about the items at the bottom of the list, especially in light of the items at the top. Yet, the entire list is mercy compared to hell.

For those who reject Christ, everything on this list will soon come to an end. When the mercy ends, the list above will seem like heaven compared to what they will face for eternity. They will go from mercy to justice.

For those who come to Jesus in faith, everything on that list will soon end for them as well. Christian, your pain and frustrations are only temporary. You will soon enter into the King’s presence, where there will be no more tears or sorrow. You will go from mercy to mercy. Hold on for just a little longer. This mercy and grace are possible because Jesus bore our wrath on the cross, and his righteousness is counted as ours.

No matter what we face as believers, we have every reason to rejoice in the Lord. Not only are our hardships better than we deserve, but he has promised to strengthen and comfort us when we face them. Meditate on this truth, and let it flood your heart with gratitude. We serve a Good and Gracious King.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, rejoice. – Philippians 4:4

-D. Eaton

https://fightoffaithblog.com/2024/07/31/everything-short-of-hell-is-mercy/

 

[Neighbor]

On 8/2/2024 at 10:55 AM, walla299 said:

here are a few things we may experience that are better than what we deserve.

• Cancer

I guess that was put in for effect, but no, cancer is not better than what is deserved. Cancer is worse than death itself. My God does not to my knowledge torture humans with the extremes of pain that cancer patients go through onto their deaths.

[walla299]

6 hours ago, Neighbor said:

I guess that was put in for effect, but no, cancer is not better than what is deserved. Cancer is worse than death itself. My God does not to my knowledge torture humans with the extremes of pain that cancer patients go through onto their deaths.

I can agree with you that the pain and suffering of cancer patients is real. It is not a joke and I certainly would not make light of that and I don't think that was the author's intent. God tortures no one in this fallen world. The fall and its consequences do enough on their own (and the enemy.) Paul made it clear that our suffering in this life cannot be compared to the glory that awaits the believer & it is "light & momentary" when compared to that. (Consider also that Paul had more than a passing familiarity with suffering!)

I believe the author's point was that as fallen humans we deserve eternal punishment from a holy God. Nothing buy justice: that's as bad as it can get. Anything short of eternal punishment can be considered mercy because stepping into eternity without Christ is much worse in its consequences than anything else in this life. So long a lost person lives there is hope of salvation. Our suffering has an expiration date in other words: we go to be with Christ unless He should return first.

[TheBlade]

Hi.. interesting for sure. But what we deserve. Haha oh this will go over big. Going back to just Christ.. I could the OT but take to long. If we truly search on what those 3 so called "wise" men brought Christ... He was not poor nor were Mary and Joseph.. but we can disagree yet what did God say to us? "The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it in abundance [to the full, till it overflows]." He GOD said to all its fullness. Yeah our Father is GOD those streets are not dirt and cement. No its pure gold see through gold. That is what we walk on. To know He said while still following the law "your will be done as it is in heaven. So we took off.. then we come back to our Father and what does He do? First He runs to us.. anyway

What we deserve. That same verse said "the thief comes only to kill steal and destroy". So that list is not what God does. See so many things that happen we cry out to God and ooh many times He answers but many times He won't do anything. Yeah you read that right. See what do we expect Him to do? Tell me the problem ok.. did He already give us a promise about that? Did GOD not say I give you all power all authority over the enemy? We have needs OT delight your self in the lord He will give you the desires of your heart. Just how does that happen? Keep reading " Commit your way to the LORD; Trust in Him also and He will do it." Hello faith.

What ever you ask the Father in my name (Yeshua/Jesus) He will do it. What ever you desire when you pray believe you receive it you shall have it. If we know He hears us then we know we have the petitions/prayers we asked for. If we doubt were like a ship tossed back and forth let not that man believe he will get anything from the lord. He said also you have not because you ask not or your asking wrong.

I don't read all this and my take away is ooh I can get anything I want. No.. He alone supplies all my needs.  What God does for one He does for all. Look at David.... this is GOD "I also gave you your master’s house, and put your master’s wives into your care and under your protection, and I gave you the house (royal dynasty) of Israel and of Judah; and if that had been too little, I would have given you much more!"

You have not because you ask not. What we read NT all that ties back to the OT. Sorry but in this life we have a choice. For the past few years and today Hes' really saying it loud is "don't forget my promises".  Its faith.. its not what you see or hear or feel. You start in the little things.. fear worry doubt sadness. Fear its all you feel, its all around you.. so you stand on what He said you receive it "God has not given me the spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind". The joy of the lord is my strength. I have the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Faith without works is dead. 

This is what believers should be doing. No matter what comes against us no matter what the world says.. we come back with what our Father has already said.  We do not hope it might happen. In Acts its not by chance that its written when Peter and John were coming. When that man saw them " expecting to receive something from them.". Then after all that they said why look at us as if we did this by our own power. That name faith in that name healed this man. Look how many never talks about this verse. Well Peter and John never once had to pray or ask the Father or Jesus.. please hear us.. if it be your will. No that name faith in that name healed this man. "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name". He can not lie. They will not maybe not lets hope.

This the part where in the past I say we know the words we say them yet we do not believe. What is Gods will in heaven? When the woman asked Christ to let her kids sit on the right and left of Him did He say no?  She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.”..... " “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.”

Oh.. He loves to give and give and give. Its why He said were more blessed when we give then when we receive. Don't believe me you seek you search you find this for your self. I can only share what I know and have experienced. We need to stop coming to Him already knowing what He will say.. it will be no. He will say nothing. Try coming in reminding Him of what He said. Try asking Him why you should to this. Not what some man says but what He says. He talks more then we ever do. Expect great and wonderful thing from Him. Your Father is GOD.. oh