Free Mercy

“But Lot lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.” (Genesis 19:16) 

Mercy and merit are but oil and water. They cannot mix, nor do they mingle. They are as different as light from dark, cold from heat, or in the case of our passage, life from death. Though we have heard this message billowed from pulpits and platforms as long as if God Himself thundered against from Sinai, how little does it sink in. I encourage you to take a long look at two things this week. 

First, look at our passage. The angels have come to pronounce certain judgment upon Sodom. Late in the evening, the cruel sexual immortality of Sodom nearly stained the spotless purity of these messengers. They urged Lot to depart from this wellspring of wickedness as quickly as possible. Lot lingers. Morning comes, and the messengers begin heralding their message once more. Flee, they say, but Lot lingers. What propels Lot from Sodom? It was not the strong arm of the angels; rather, it was the free mercy of the Lord. The Lord’s mercy would not leave Lot in that miserable condition. Lot would know the Lord’s mercy, and no obstacle would hinder God’s purpose. The power that formed the world, the wisdom that hung the stars, and the lovingkindness that provided day after day would be poured out in its fullness upon poor Lot. He may linger, but the mercy of the Lord would not. 

Now, look at yourself. How many years passed by as the gospel fell upon deaf ears? One, twice, countless times the mercy of the Lord called out to you, and you lingered. We well knew that the judgment of God could fall any minute, but we lingered. These overtures of love were spurned time and time again because we were content to linger in our sin, having our P.O. box in the dominion of darkness (Col. 1:14). But, do you remember when that day came? Despite years and years of spurning the Lord, His mercy seized you. Your rebellious will subdued, your darkened mind enlightened, your hard heart replace and renewed altogether! We look back to that great change and say, “No, Lord, it was not I who decided to follow You; rather, it was Your mercy that saved me! You took the initiative! Your mercy first seized me!” Is this not the words of Peter: “According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again.” (1 Peter 1:3) What of Titus? “But when the goodness and lovingkindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy.” (Titus 3:5) 

Oh, my friends, magnify His mercy by leaving your merits in the dust. His mercy is that great engine of your salvation. Let all that we say and do exalt this mercy beyond the heavens and look in expectation to His mercy seizing and saving others from certain misery.