Debtors to mercy

Today I was studying Psalm 103 and verses 8-11 caught my attention:  "The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. [9] He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. [10] He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. [11] For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him."  God is so abundant in His mercy towards us.  Because of His plenteous mercy, all mankind has greater debt towards God.

To illustrate, suppose that there was a kingdom ruled by a righteous king.  He was fair, just, and held people accountable to the law.  In this kingdom there lived a rebellious young man.  Instead of abiding by the laws of the land, he turned to a life of crime and murder.  He made an alliance with the enemy of his king and was furnished money for the killing of innocent people.  An inquiry was made, and the king sent soldiers to arrest the young man for murder and high treason against the crown.  After seeing the young man was sorrowful for his actions, the king was moved with compassion and stayed the execution of the convicted killer.  "Mercy has been granted unto you today, young man," said the king.  "Show yourself prudent and I will consider you for a position in my court."

But the king's mercy and grace did not change the young man's heart.  Instead of breaking off his relationship with the king's enemy, he agreed to assassinate the king who had shown him mercy for a great sum of money.  Upon arrival to the castle, the young fool was caught and his intentions were made known to the king.  Should it have been a common criminal or a senseless beast it would have been more tolerable to the king than the one to whom he had shown mercy.  Would not a righteous king be angry by such conduct?  "I offered you mercy, not treating you according to your own wickedness," the king spoke soberly.  "I granted you a potential seat of honor in my court, and you have repaid me with violence as an enemy.  For this you will certainly be put to death, since you refuse the mercy I have freely given and choose to add to your guilt."

It occurred to me for the first time today that because God's mercy is infinite and everlasting, all people add to their sin by refusing it.  If the justice of God was doled out immediately according to our sins none could be saved, for all have sinned.  But because God is long suffering and merciful, not willing that any should perish, He has given us opportunity to respond by receiving of His mercies.  To reject God's mercy is to sign your own death warrant.  Had God not shown us mercy, it would be bad enough:  but since His mercy has been given to all, how damned we are to reject Him!  Praise God that His mercies are new every morning, "For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him."