“ See, this alone I found, that God made man upright, but they have sought out many schemes.”
Psalms 99:8 O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings
Psalms 89:33 but I will not remove from him my steadfast love or be false to my faithfulness.
Deuteronomy 9:19 For I was afraid of the anger and hot displeasure that the LORD bore against you, so that he was ready to destroy you. But the LORD listened to me that time also.
Jeremiah 46:28 Fear not, O Jacob my servant, declares the LORD, for I am with you. I will make a full end of all the nations to which I have driven you, but of you I will not make a full end. I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished.”
Zephaniah 3:7 I said, ‘Surely you will fear me; you will accept correction. Then your dwelling would not be cut off according to all that I have appointed against you.’ But all the more they were eager to make all their deeds corrupt.
Exodus 32:34-35 But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them.”
Numbers 14:20-34 Then the LORD said, “I have pardoned, according to your word. But truly, as I live, and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the LORD, none of the men who have seen my glory and my signs that I did in Egypt and in the wilderness, and yet have put me to the test these ten times and have not obeyed my voice, shall see the land that I swore to give to their fathers. And none of those who despised me shall see it. But my servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit and has followed me fully, I will bring into the land into which he went, and his descendants shall possess it.
Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Nevertheless, in the day when I visit, I will visit their sin upon them.”, ” I will discipline you in just measure, and I will by no means leave you unpunished”, “all that I have appointed against you.”, ” none of those who despised me shall see it.” What comes to mind when you read these? When I read these from scriptures above I see a people who chose to either follow fully or those who chose to be complacent or those who willfully chose to disobey. None were above being disciplined by God. None seeking forgiveness from God were left wanting. None disregarding God were pardoned. Sin has always been in our heart. Sin has a way of taking over if we are not actively at battle with it. If I think there is no God, or that there is a God and He is not going to hold me accountable – sin has darkened my heart to scripture truth. If I think I can live on the fence living for self sometimes and neglect obedience to God – sin has darkened my heart. If I think I can keep ledger of my good and bad, and this will in anyway have influence on God – sin has darkened my heart. If I trust in, cling to, rely on the promises of God through Jesus Christ – the light of the gospel has exposed my heart, mind and soul to the grace, mercy, and love of God. “and though your sin be as scarlet it will be washed white as snow”