The Cost of Persistent Rebellion

Reverend Leo H. McCrary II

One ought not mistaken God’s mercy as tolerance

Today’s devotional reading: 2 Kgs. 15:27-30

God does not and will not ever tolerate sin. Sin disobeys the instructions and will of the Lord, whether one sins blatantly or unknowingly. I want you to consider this for a moment: When someone wrongs you, knowingly or not, are you happy with being wronged? Nobody is happy to be wronged and in that unhappiness, one will rebuke or correct the wrongdoer to make it clear they have been wronged and aren’t pleased.

Just because the Lord is merciful and will forgive our wrongdoing, does not mean that the Lord is pleased with us, and tolerates, or accepts sin. The children of Israel are an example that God is not tolerant – or accepting – of sin. Repeatedly through His prophets, God rebuked the sin of His people, letting them know He had been wronged and was not pleased with them.

Rather than making correction, Israel chose to blatantly sin, worshipping idols like Baal and even killing God’s prophets. Eventually Israel, the northern kingdom, and Judah, the southern kingdom, met the price of their rebellion. The Assyrians conquered the northern kingdom and it was lost. Babylon conquered the southern kingdom, and Judah dwelt in exile for 70 years before returning to Judea and Jerusalem.

Rebellion has a price, and one day God will judge sin. Do not mistake mercy for acceptance, because God is not pleased with sin. You must put forth your best effort to live in accordance to the way of God. The Lord knows we aren’t going to be perfect, but He does look for us to acknowledge our wrongdoing and put forth our best effort to live in obedience. So, again I say, put forth you best effor to live in obedience and it is that effort that pleases the Lord.