Keith Battle - The Comeback

I’m using the subject of the comeback today. For the sake of time, I will not exhaust you by reading this entire chapter. All of the sins of the people of Judah had led them into a predicament where they were suffering. In fact, it says that God had given them suffering for food and adversity for drink. They were miserable, and the reason why they were miserable is that they brought it upon themselves. They chose to go their own way; they had fallen away from their commitment and allegiance to God. They did something we call in the church «backsliding.» They withdrew from God and came up with their own philosophies, even starting to make gods to worship. If I can make a god, I can control the god that I made. If I can create a god, I can manipulate it to do what I want, and I can set my own rules, because that god can’t talk. It has a mouth, but even if you put a mouth on it, it can’t speak; even if you put ears on it, it can’t hear—it’s just an image. So, they had strayed from God and turned to their own ways, suffering the consequences.

What this passage addresses, by way of hope, is that God is both punitive and patient. Oh, that’s good right there! I’m going to say that again—God is both punitive and patient. That’s great news right there! His punitive nature comes from His holiness; the holiness of God cannot see sin and not judge it—that is His holiness. However, the patience of God, though He sees sin and must punish it, means He cannot give up on His child. That’s good right there! If I don’t say anything else, that was enough for you to come to church today. He is so just that when His Son became sin, He killed Him. Oh yes, God killed Jesus for our sins. Jesus had to die once He became sin for us; He took on the sins of the world! Even the Father looked at His Son and said, «You’re my Son, but you have to die, because the wages of sin is death,» even if it’s my Son. That’s how righteous God is!

But this is how patient He is: He said, «I’m going to wait on you; I’m going to wait on you; I’m going to wait on you.» The reason He waits is that there’s a part of Him that knows if He acts while you’re in sin, He will act in righteousness, justice, and judgment. He can unleash irrevocable wrath and be justified in doing it. But even though I have the green light to judge you because you are wrong, my Spirit puts a red light on me because I love you. Y’all aren’t ready for this today! Is anyone grateful that He waited? That’s the first thing I want to tell you today: that God waited! He didn’t just wait on Judah. I didn’t come to only preach about Judah and the history of Israel; I came to preach to some people right here in Zion Church today. You might be online, at Woodbridge, in Landover, or right here in Greenbelt, or in Fort Washington, but just like the people of Judah, you know what it’s like to have once stood with God and been in a relationship with Him, but you drifted away.

God is calling you to come back today! He’s waiting on you to come back to Him. Not only is He calling you to return, but He is waiting on you. That’s what I love about God! He is giving us time and space. He’s saying, «I could judge you, but I’m waiting. I could be done with you, but I’m waiting. I could be through with you, but I’m waiting.» I wonder if anyone is listening to me right now that understands that you and I have done enough in our lives for God to be done with us. Where are my real people? I don’t need no «maybes.» If you’re online, put your hand up in the chat! I’m talking about people who know you’ve done some things, said some things, been some places, and gotten involved in mess, that God should have been finished with you by now, but He waited! Glory to God! He waited until you got it together. He waited until you returned. He didn’t give you what you deserved; He gave you grace! Somebody give God praise for waiting!

Listen, He waited on some of us longer than others, but I’m so glad He waited! Think about the places where He had to wait—what kind of places was He standing outside of to wait on you? If you know He waited, shout, «He waited on me! He waited on me! He waited on me! He waited on me!» I did some things you don’t even know about—I did some things I would never tell you because you can’t handle it! You can’t handle my whole testimony, but He waited. The Lord waited. The Lord waited! Verse 18 says, «The Lord waited.» He waited! «The Lord must wait for you to come to Him.» The Lord must wait for you to come to Him! The Lord must wait for you to come to Him! Oh, that’s not just good for us!