“For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” James 2:13 NKJV

God is a God of mercy. None of us would be around today, if He wasn’t. Thank God, His mercies are new every morning! “Through the LORD’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.” (Lamentations 3:22-23 NKJV)  Yet the Bible tells us that God will not always strive with man. (Genesis 6:3) There will come a day when His mercies will no longer be extended toward mankind. On that day, judgment will overtake mercy.

We are living in an age of mercy. Because of that, God is patient with us, even considering the horrible sins of the world. He lovingly chooses mercy, waiting for men to repent – even though He has every right to bring judgement. (2 Peter 3:9) Yet, I’m afraid there is coming a day when His wrath and fury will be poured out on the earth. After all, He is the just Judge of all the earth. (Genesis 18:25)

History also tells us that God will only hold back His righteous anger for so long. Israel is His chosen people, and yet, the accumulation of their sin brought judgment and captivity. They were blessed beyond measure, when they followed God and walked in obedience to His Word. However, when they continually turned away and rejected His laws, He had no choice but to render judgment.

Abraham appealed to God on the grounds of His mercy. He interceded for Sodom and Gomorrah when their wickedness reached a level that God could no longer tolerate. It is never God’s will to execute judgment on people. “He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his ways and live…” (Ezekiel 33:11a) Instead, He is always looking for a way to show mercy. Yet, there comes a time when God must act to preserve justice in the earth.

The words that Abraham spoke to God are absolutely true. “Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?” (Genesis 18:25 NKJV) Abraham was using those words to remind God that as the Just Judge of all the earth, He will always judge righteously. We all know the outcome of the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. There were not enough righteous people in those cities to stay the hand of judgement. There comes a time when wickedness overcomes goodness, and in that day, mankind is in danger of the judgment of God. The Bible tells us to beware, when men call evil good and good evil. (Isaiah 5:20) Judgment is imminent.

I’m afraid America may be at that threshold… God will only stay His hand of judgment for so long; His mercy will not always avert it. Our greatest hope is for another spiritual awakening to turn this nation back to God. Time is running out; we must pray like never before! I see two great cups in heaven, a cup of wrath, and a cup of revival. The cup of wrath is being filled up, as wickedness is displayed across our nation. The cup of revival is being filled, too, with the prayers of the saints. Which will fill up first and spill out on our land? My hope and prayer is for revival…