“Just because I have chosen to be patient, do not take My warnings lightly. Generations before you have made the mistake of misunderstanding My love. They have seen it as weakness or have thought that I do not mean what I say, because I have not immediately fulfilled what I have said that I would do. While I was waiting for everything to be in order, their impatient and deceitful hearts led them into folly, and they perished. Do not make the same mistake concerning what I have been telling you. Do not think that because I have delayed My judgment, it is not on its way for those who choose to defy Me. My Word will always stand. My will always prevails.
“For a long time now, I have told you of a time of horror that is coming in your generation if it does not repent. I have also expressed My displeasure with the coldness of My church in many ways, and for many seasons. I have told those who will listen that they need to lay all other gods aside and serve Me with all of their hearts. Because I have not fulfilled My warnings immediately, do not think that I have forgotten them. In my perfect timing, when all things are in order as I see it, what I have said, I will do. You can count on it. If you have ears to hear, take note of My warnings, and give yourself completely to Me. Seek Me with all of your heart, and you will rise above all the impending horrors that will fall upon those who do not think that I mean what I say, because My love is having its perfect way.
“I love you. Come to Me now, before you find yourself without the power to overcome when you need it to survive. Do not misunderstand My delays. My holding back is an act of love, a function of mercy. When I strike against the rebellion, it will be sudden. That time will not be the time to decide to come to Me with all of your heart. You prepare now, so that you can walk in My wisdom and safety, when others flee and hide in horror.”
Isaiah 48:3 NIV
“I foretold the former things long ago, my mouth announced them and I made them known; then suddenly I acted, and they came to pass.”
Ezekiel 12:21-25 NIV
21) The word of the Lord came to me:
22) “Son of man, what is this proverb you have in the land of Israel: ‘The days go by and every vision comes to nothing’?
23) Say to them, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I am going to put an end to this proverb, and they will no longer quote it in Israel.’ Say to them, ‘The days are near when every vision will be fulfilled.
24) For there will be no more false visions or flattering divinations among the people of Israel.
25) But I the Lord will speak what I will, and it shall be fulfilled without delay. For in your days, you rebellious house, I will fulfill whatever I say, declares the Sovereign Lord.”
Mark 4:24 AMP
And He said to them, Be careful what you are hearing. The measure [of thought and study] you give [to the truth you hear] will be the measure [of virtue and knowledge] that comes back to you – and more [besides] will be given to you who hear.
What an incredible, patient, and merciful God, warning those who have ears to hear, so that they can be safe! What astounding love!
Off and on, the Lord reminds me of the warnings I have received over the years. In many ways, in different forms, He would have me write them down, publish some of them; and simply hold others until I was released to express them.
As I was waiting on Him, the thought of long delays before fulfillment came to me. It seemed that I was periodically hearing the same warnings over and over. They were said in many ways, but always had the same basic content - one of a strong call to holiness and a turning from serving other gods before impending judgment. Others that I trust were hearing the same thing. My foolish heart wondered if people would tire of hearing the same thing over and over and grow cold to the urgency imparted with each warning.
Recently, the Lord showed me that time as we know it means very little. Those who walked with Jesus felt that He was coming back in their lifetime because they misunderstood the timing of His words. Even though it did not happen when they expected it to happen, that belief kept their zeal alive and showed us, generations later, how to function as Christians. Many prophecies took generations to fulfill. Each one, however, was fulfilled in the timing of the Lord, often very suddenly, catching many unaware.
It is paramount for us to never ignore or minimize a strong, repetitive call, simply because the fulfillment seems to be delayed. The season of birth is indicated by the frequency and intensity of the birth pains; then the birth comes. In the same way, each day and every moment bring us closer to the fulfillment of every promise made by our Lord.
How foolish we would be to think that because He has held back His judgment this long, He does not mean what He says. Even more foolish is the thought that there is a lot of time left for us to turn from our sin because we misunderstand His mercy. History has proven that the Lord warns and warns, and then suddenly, He acts. We need to be ready now. Fulfillment might be today.
Needing to live as if tomorrow might not come,
Jim Corbett
