Over the last six months I’ve been reading through the Bible in chronological order and it has been very insightful to read it in the order it was written.

As I read through the book of Ezekiel, a few verses stopped me in my tracks. God is speaking and He says:

“Do you think I take any pleasure in the death of wicked men and women? Isn’t it my pleasure that they turn around, no longer living wrong but living right—really living?…The upshot is this, Israel: I’ll judge each of you according to the way you live. So turn around! Turn your backs on your rebellious living so that sin won’t drag you down. Clean house. No more rebellions, please. Get a new heart! Get a new spirit! Why would you choose to die, Israel? I take no pleasure in anyone’s death. (Ezekiel 18: 23; 30-32)

Verse 32 clearly says that God does not take any pleasure in the death of wicked men and women.

How can this be? Because, if we’re honest, the majority of people are happy when a truly wicked person who has done horrific things dies. Or at the least we feel justice has been served.

But God is not like us. And I’m glad about that.

His thoughts and actions are often beyond our understanding. (Isaiah 55)

Make no mistake that God is just and His justice will be served. Romans 12:9 says,
“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

But God doesn’t wish that anyone would perish and spend eternity away from Him. Rather He desires that the wicked would repent—change their life and receive a renewed heart.

This extreme grace that God shows to people who we think don’t “deserve” grace can feel offensive at times, can’t it?

And yet, the Bible says that God is love. (1 John 4:8) He is literally love. He lovingly created each person with good purpose. Doesn’t it make sense, then, if His people go down the wrong path that He would want them to turn around and be healed and saved? Rather than destroyed?

“God is all mercy and grace—not quick to anger, is rich in love. God is good to one and all; everything He does is suffused with grace.” Psalm 145:8-9

“Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?” Romans 2:4

 “For God does not show favoritism.” Romans 2:11

When I really think about it I’m glad that I serve a God who is so kind and so gracious and merciful that He so desires every person to be well and to be redeemed. No matter who that person is. No matter what they have done.

I think of David who was a murderer and adulterer but he repented and God called him a man after His own heart. I think of Paul, who wrote the majority of the New Testament. Paul, who terrorized and killed Christians before God literally knocked him off of his high horse and changed his life.

God’s mercy and grace extends even to the worst person. Because for it to be true mercy and for it to be true grace it has to.

Thank You, God, that You are love. Thank You that You are so full of mercy and grace that You don’t want anyone to be destroyed, but desire everyone to repent and to be redeemed. (2 Peter 3:9)

That is good news!