See the Glory of the Lord
“By no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children and the children’s children to the third and the fourth generation.” Exodus 34:7
God is gracious and merciful. He is longsuffering. He wants nothing more than to forgive, to heal, to restore and to save. But He also is holy! And that’s good! The fact that He is holy means that He cannot go back on His word or break a promise. His holiness is the source of His faithfulness.
However, for those who despise and reject His forgiveness by continuing in their sin, He cannot clear them of their guilt. His holiness prevents Him from ever excusing, overlooking, or clearing even a single sin. Every sin, even eating a piece of forbidden fruit, is a breaking of God’s law and must be punished. However, in His grace and mercy He has provided a substitute—His own Son, Jesus Christ. He bore the punishment for our sins. God’s holiness guarantees that He will NEVER punish those who receive Christ’s sacrifice in their place by repentant faith. They are covered with Christ’s righteousness.
Those who do not receive the sacrifice of Christ and His forgiveness by faith remain in their guilt and sin and will suffer God’s punishment for their own sins. Therefore may we all respond to this revelation of God’s glory the way Moses did. “So Moses made haste and bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped. Then he said, “If now I have found grace in Your sight, O Lord, let my Lord, I pray, go among us, even though we are a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your inheritance.” (Exodus 34:8-9) Rejoice that God is holy and will do as He promises.
Dear Father, I confess that I too, am stiff-necked and stubbornly sin against you. Forgive me, I pray, for the sake of Jesus’ sacrifice in my place. Take me as your inheritance and go with me throughout my life and lead me safely to my eternal home with you. Amen.