You.

O that you would rend to the heavens and come down, come down to make your name known to your enemies and cause the nations to quake before you. Isaiah 64, verses one and two. We live in a world gone mad, a world full of bullies and violence and cruelty of every kind. We live in a world full of people who are rebellious and who reject decency, truth, and conscience. So many people who describe themselves as enlightened scoff at the Bible and reject the authority of God. Every day we encounter people who seem determined to live ungodly, corrupt, sinful, selfcentered lives. When we look at our world, we wonder, how long will God sit by and allow all of this to fester and grow and further spoil the world that he created? We wonder, too, how long those who trust in Him and who live respectfully under his will must suffer at the hands of those who despise Him, his Word and all that is good and right. The prophet Isaiah lived in a time very much like our own a world of violence, rebellion, and injustice. Many of God's people had forsaken him, too, choosing to live like the world instead of living in a way that glorified and honored him. As Isaiah looked around and saw the condition of his world, he cried out to the Lord, oh, that you would come down. He prayed, make your presence known and make the world quake before you. Don't we pray the same thing? Why doesn't God swoop down out of heaven and put an end to all the corrupt and evil things that define our world? The apostle Peter gives us the answer in two. Peter, chapter three, verse nine. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, he wrote. He is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but wanting everyone to come to repentance. You see, God hates what he sees in the world every bit as much as we do. But unlike us, he also loves even the worst, most terrible, most wicked people in the world. When he comes to put an end to all the evil around us, the chance for forgiveness and salvation will also end for all who have not yet bowed before Him. Therefore, God is in no rush to bring human history to a close. But know this god's patience has a limit. The time will come when he has had enough and will tolerate no more. Then he will come down, and every knee will bow before Him. And those who have used and abused others, and those who have stubbornly refused to acknowledge and honor Him will pay their dues.

This has been your thought for the day with Steve Burkham, pastor of Community Christian Church in Stockton, California. If you have questions or comments for Pastor Steve, please send them to [email protected]. Have a great day, and we hope you'll join us tomorrow as Pastor Steve opens God's word to bring us another thought for the day.