His Mercy Is Everlasting

For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations. Psalm 100:5

How would you finish this sentence: For the LORD is good; his ____________________?

Of all the things that David could have written, he wrote, "...his mercy is everlasting..."

Do you have any idea when mercy is first mentioned in the Bible?

And while he lingered, the men laid hold upon his hand, and upon the hand of his wife, and upon the hand of his two daughters; the Lord being merciful unto him: and they brought him forth, and set him without the city. Genesis 19:16

The first time, in the Bible, that we see the mention of mercy, is found in the account of Lot being rescued from Sodom and Gomorrah. It was of the Lord's mercy that Lot wasn't destroyed along with the rest of the inhabitants of Sodom and Gomorrah which reminds me of a very familiar verse:

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. Lamentations 3:22

It certainly was because of the Lord's mercy that Lot was not destroyed in Sodom and Gomorah. In fact, Lot even recognized that fact.

Behold now, thy servant hath found grace in thy sight, and thou hast magnified thy mercy, which thou hast shewed unto me in saving my life; and I cannot escape to the mountain, lest some evil take me, and I die: Genesis 19:19

Did Lot deserve to be delivered from Sodom and Gomorrah?

No, he most certainly did not. In fact if you were to go back through Lot's "life story" you would find that it was his own fault - because of his own decisions - that he found himself in Sodom and Gomorah to begin with. As a believer (Lot is called "just" in 2 Peter 2:7.), Lot had made some very foolish decisions. Lot did not deserve God's mercy in delivering him from Sodom and Gomorrah!

What about us? Do we deserve God's mercy? No, certainly not!

Think back through your life, for a moment, and think of all the things that you don't deserve...

• I didn't deserve to have two loving, godly parents. But God allowed it anyway.

• I didn't deserve to be allowed to go to a Christian school where I was taught God's truth. But God allowed it anyway.

• I didn't deserve to be allowed to attend a good, Bible-believing Baptist Church. But God allowed it anyway.

• I didn't deserve to be allowed to accept Jesus Christ as my Savior on July 2, 1991. But God allowed it anyway.

• I didn't deserve to be allowed to attend Pensacola Christian College where I was allowed to train to serve the Lord. But God allowed it anyway.

• I didn't deserve to be given the desire of my heart and to travel as a college rep for PCC. But God allowed it anyway.

• I didn't deserve to be allowed to marry a beautiful, God-fearing young lady. But God allowed it anyway.

• I didn't deserve to be allowed to have 5 beautiful children. But God allowed it anyway. (For those who may not know, in 2002 God blessed our familiy with twins, Logan and Titus. However, Logan passed away when he was 10 weeks old. That's another story in itself of God's mercy, grace, and goodness!)

• I haven't deserved to be allowed to serve the same church - South Charlotte Baptist Church - for the past 24 years. But God has allowed it anyway.

It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. Lamentations 3:22

When I am asked to "count my blessings" and I'm tempted to think that I don't have many blessings to count, all I have to do is stop and consider all the things that I don't deserve. It's then that I realize that, because of God's mercy, I can truly say, "The Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting!" It's then that I can count my blessings and see what God truly has done for me! Praise the Lord for His mercy!

Do you know Jesus Christ as your Savior? If not, please click here to watch a brief video that will explain, from the Bible, how you can know for sure that Heaven will be your eternal home.

Until next time...Reach 1!