The following student report was submitted by Ambassador League Agent Elizabeth D. during the 2008-2009 League.
Mission: Research - Mercy
One of the definitions for mercy is to show pity to another in great need, with focus on an act of kindness that will help meet the need. God's mercy is very similar in that He showed us an act of love for the whole world, to meet our need for a Savior by sending His Son. Another definition of mercy is unfailing and loyal love. Psalms 103: 8 says "God is slow to anger and abounding in love." The only one that gives truly unfailing love is God, because He is perfect and we are not. That means that God punished us less than our sins deserved, and yet He is the only one that can give us mercy. We are the only ones that can receive mercy and forgiveness for what we have done. In Ezra 9:13 it says that "God punished us less than our sins deserved," and yet "He delights to show mercy to us." (Micah 7:18) God "saves the very worst of sinners," (1 Timothy 1:15-16); "He rescues us from death," (Romans 7:24-25) and "He even removed our sin as far as the East is from the West." (Psalm 103:8) Yet, in spite of all He has done for us, we still reject it sometimes due to our stubborn and unrepentant hearts (Romans 2:5).
There are two natural results of God's mercy: repentance which leads to salvation (2 Corinthians 7:9), and stored up wrath which leads to eternal punishment (2 Thessalonians 1:8-9). Often, when contemplating God's mercy, people ask 'Why does God allow evil to go unpunished?' In Jeremiah 12:1-2 it says the wicked will only prosper in life, for the whole world is under control of the evil one (1 John 5:19b). But soon the day of the Lord will come (2 Peter 3:10), and He will wipe away every tear from their (the saints) eyes (Revelation 7:17). Ephesians 2:4-5 is probably the clearest verse that describes God's mercy; "But because of His great love for us, God who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions. It is by grace you have been saved."
