Iniquity Not Yet Full
Each year violence and corruption seem to increase. The number of killings this past year is astonishing. The heart of man shows its evil in wars, murders and terrorism, and, in addition, there are many deaths from car wrecks, airplane crashes, train wrecks and ships sinking. Sometimes we wonder (not having the statistics) if there are more deaths than births.
The daily news is largely made up of murders and wars and personal fighting. The New Testament tells us, "Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies." Matt. 15:1919For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: (Matthew 15:19).
The prophets of the Old Testament use very expressive language in writing of coming events. Micah describes it this way: "The good man is perished out of the earth; and there is none upright among men: they all lie in wait for blood; they hunt every man his brother with a net. That they may do evil with both hands earnestly, the prince asketh, and the judge asketh for a reward; and the great man, he uttereth his mischievous desire: so they wrap it up." Ch. 7:2, 3.
Daniel writes of two kings and says, "And both these kings' hearts shall be to do mischief, and they shall speak lies at one table." Ch. 11:27.
Isaiah declares, "The treacherous dealers have dealt treacherously; yea, the treacherous dealers have dealt very treacherously." Ch. 24:16.
It is interesting that the violence of Lebanon-where we have seen so much violence lately-is mentioned by one of the prophets: "For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein." Hab. 2:1717For the violence of Lebanon shall cover thee, and the spoil of beasts, which made them afraid, because of men's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein. (Habakkuk 2:17).
The patience of the Lord in waiting to judge is seen in His words to Abram in Gen. 15. He says, "The iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full." vs. 16. If we were the judges of this present evil world, we would likely judge that the iniquity is full, but our Lord God is merciful and not willing that any should perish. In His long-suffering and goodness He is, by His Spirit, still saving souls out of the world and gathering some to the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. "God our Savior; who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth." 1 Tim. 2:3, 43For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; 4Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth. (1 Timothy 2:3‑4).
For saved souls, the bright prospect concerning this world is to be taken out of it. That is what Jude, the writer of the last epistle, means when he writes,
"Looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." Ed.