but God

Don’t Stop Reading

You may find yourself while reading scripture in a state of discouragement or confusion. Spend some time in the Old Testament reading about the wrath of God and soon enough your mind will start to wonder. 

“How can a good God do this?” 

There are many verses that if you isolate them and read them alone will leave you with questions and doubt. 

“I will bring distress on mankind, so that they shall walk like the blind, because they have sinned against the Lord; their blood shall be poured out like dust, and their flesh like dung.” Zepheniah 1:17

If this is your only exposure, or you stop reading here, I do not blame you for your doubts, hesitations, or concerns. 

Look at Ephesians 2:1-3.

“And you were dead in the trespasses of sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience – among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.” 

Don’t stop reading. 

Verse 4 continues, “but God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ – by grace you have been saved – and raised up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” 

That phrase, “but God” ὁ δὲ θεὸς (ho de theos), summarizes the entire gospel message. 

You are a sinner –> but God is rich in Mercy. 

You are a slave to sin –> but God sent his Son to the cross to free you from your bondage. 

You are dead in your trespasses –> but God made us alive together with Christ. 

You deserve punishment –> but God is abounding in steadfast love. 

These words change the entire course of our lives. 

Don’t stop reading. God is a redeemer and the story doesn’t end with our eternal punishment. We have the promise of God that “in him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.” Ephesians 1:7

Live your life in a “but God” mindset. 

I may be discouraged today, but God is still good. 

I may be anxious today, but God is still good. 

I may be fearful today, but God is still good. 

Let these words change your perspective and fill you with encouragement that we have a God who finishes the story. 

Spoiler alert: this all ends with every knee bowed and every tongue confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord. That is the end of the story!