Loading... Acts 22:8 - WHOM THOU PERSECUTES
Acts 22:8 And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutes.
Do you realize just how patient God is with us? Do you fully appreciate how we do not experience the immediate wrath of God the second we sin and fall short of HIS perfect will for our life?
Paul was a zealous man who was out persecuting the Christians. Paul was zealous in the traditions of the Jews and he did not understand how by the death of Jesus Christ, some major things had changed. Paul thought he was fighting for God when in reality he was fighting against God. The first time Paul put in prison a believer; God did not strike him dead.
God was patient with Paul and eventually, God decided it was time to get Paul’s attention. God knew exactly what to do to get Paul to change from his wicked ways. The way how God responded with Paul is not the way he responded with Jonah, or King Ahab. God treats each one of us different.
Just because we sin and it does not appear like God has punished us, it does not mean that God did not see what we did. God knows what you do in private even when no one else in this world knows what you have done. God may let you slide for a while, but there will come a day when you will be held accountable to HIM for every action, every word, and every thought.
God knew back before Adam and Eve ever sinned in the garden that there would be a man named Paul who was going to persecute those who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. God knew that this man by his persecution would cause many believers to flee and thus result in the spreading of the gospel. God also know that one day this same Paul would be touched by God and that this man would become a dedicated servant of God.
God knew all the bad things that Paul was going to do before Paul even was conceived. Nonetheless, God allowed Paul to live his life and do those things that were harmful to the cause of Christ. God was patient with Paul and one day God reached down from heaven and spoke to Paul in such a way that Paul saw the error of his ways.
God knew who you were going to be before the beginning of time. God knows all the mistakes that you have made and all the mistakes you will make in the future. God did not immediately judge you the second you sinned and fell short of HIS glory. Instead, God loved you so much that HE sent HIS only Son to die for you so that HIS blood can wash away all your sins.
The next time you sin, you need to fall on your face and thank God for the blood of Jesus Christ. The next time you sin, you need to fall on your face and thank God for HIS patience with you. The next time you sin, you need to fall on your face and thank God that HE did not cause the ground to open up and swallow you up.
God is very patient with us and HE has allowed us to live our lives according to our own free will. Just like we cannot touch a hot stove and not burn ourselves, there are consequences for the sins that we commit. Nonetheless, God has shown great mercy to us to allow us to live even when we have sinned and committed such grievous sins against a Holy God. God has never sinned, yet HE still forgives us for our transgressions.