It’s Not Over

It’s not over until God says it’s over, and even then God’s grace and mercy may rule out over His justice. Nothing is a foregone conclusion until the final chapter has been written.

Far too often we live defeated lives because we think it’s too late because the doctor said, or because the vote came out in a way that’s against us. But it’s not over.

Consider this classic verse from Joel.

“Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.” (Joel 2:13 NIV)

This is the testimony of King David. God said that the child born through the adulterous affair would die. But David fasted and prayed nonetheless saying, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.’” (2 Samuel 12:22 NIV)

While God said the child would die, David knew God might yet relent and allow the child to live.

This is the story of Jonah and Nineveh. Jonah didn’t want to go and took elaborate steps not to because he knew that God was gracious and would spare the city. He said, “I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.” (Jonah 4:2 NIV)

This was something even the king of Nineveh knew saying, “Who knows? God may yet relent and with compassion turn from his fierce anger so that we will not perish.” (Jonah 3:9 NIV)

In the end God relented and the city was spared.

It’s because of God’s love, grace, mercy, and compassion that nothing is ever over until it’s over.

Therefore let’s continue to fast and pray, and even if our society says it’s finished, until God says so, let’s continue to seek after God’s will and way.