Walking with the Wise #68: Don't Presume

“Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool,
 

but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding.”

—Proverbs 10:23

God is holy. He is not to be trifled or played with, because He is the holy God who holds our breath in His hands. He knows that we are but dust, and though He could smite us at any moment, He chooses not to because of His goodness. He doesn’t delight in the death of the wicked (cf. Ezekiel 18:23; 33:11), but is good to us so that we might come to repentance, as Paul wrote:

“Or do you presume on the riches of His kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”—Romans 2:4.

Many men and women do in fact presume upon God’s kindness and patience, by trampling on His commands, but God is not mocked and will give those who sin so deliberately and maliciously over to the full consequences of their sinful actions. As Paul wrote,

“And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them”—Romans 1:28-32.

Such actions, if continued, will bring horrid and unimaginable pain, as Paul wrote:

“But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed”—Romans 2:5.

The only solution for such reckless disobedience is humble repentance. We cannot presume upon God’s kindness and continue in sin, because we will reap what we sow (cf. Galatians 6:7). Wise living means forsaking the fleeting pleasures of sin and pursuing lives built upon the foundation of God’s Word. That type of living promises pleasure that endures, unlike the pleasures of sin that are only for a short time.

Are you presuming upon God’s kindness? Do you believe that you can hide what you are doing from God? Do you think that He has not noticed your sin? Don’t interpret His benevolence as an allowance to continue in sin. God is not to be mocked. He will deal with each and every sin that we have ever done; not one has escaped His knowledge. Don’t wait any longer! Repent! Turn to Him and plead for mercy, grace and forgiveness. Fall at the feet of the Savior, accepting His sacrifice for your sins! And then be ready to receive His grace and forgiveness that come to all who come to Him in repentance and faith. He will forgive you! And He will give you His peace that is beyond anything this world has to offer. Don’t wait, do it right now! Amen.