Re:Verse passage – Luke 15:1-10 (day six)
11 As surely as I live, says the Sovereign Lord, I take no pleasure in the death of wicked people. I only want them to turn from their wicked ways so they can live. Turn! Turn from your wickedness, O people of Israel! Why should you die?
-God, Ezekiel 33:11
I don’t think this could be overstated, God does not find delight in destroying the wicked. While he may be glorified in the destruction of the wicked, in the same way a judge is glorified when he upholds justice against grave injustice, he doesn’t enjoy it; it does not give him pleasure.
What does give God joy and delight? Jesus tells us. When the lost are found; when even one wicked person repents and turns to God.
Doesn’t that tells us something deeply profound about God’s heart towards us? The sending of the Son sprung from the infinite well of God’s compassion towards wicked sinners like us. He is not waiting for the Day of Judgment with great anticipation, rubbing his hands together with glee, thinking let’s hurry this thing along. Not even close.
Peter wrote,“The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent.” (2 Peter 3:9)
Here’s the rub, if this is the attitude of heaven, shouldn’t this be our attitude? Isn’t that what Jesus wanted the pharisees to learn?
