Today’s devotion comes from Revelation 22:10-11.
“And he *said to me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, for the time is near. Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; and the one who is filthy, still be filthy; and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; and the one who is holy, still keep himself holy.” Revelation 22:10-11.
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Why does today’s Scripture state: “Let the one who does wrong, still do wrong; … and let the one who is righteous, still practice righteousness; …”?
Scripture clearly and repeatedly shows that God condemns and punishes wrongdoing.
“The wicked is thrust down by his wrongdoing,
But the righteous has a refuge when he dies.” Proverbs 14:32.
“For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality.” Colossians 3:25.
By its statement, today’s Scripture seems to me to be sarcastic. Oxford Languages defines sarcasm as “the use of irony to mock or convey contempt.” Oxford Languages defines irony as “the expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.”
Likewise we see in Scripture the response of the Lord to the rebellious who state:
“3 “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.” Psalm 2:3-4.
Thus, rather than think by today’s expression that the LORD is wringing his hands as if there is nothing He can do about wrongdoers, today’s Scripture leads us to meditate on the sovereignty of the LORD.
“The LORD has established His throne in the heavens,
And His sovereignty rules over all.” Psalm 103:19.
“18 Surely You set them in slippery places;
You cast them down to destruction.
19 How they are destroyed in a moment!
They are utterly swept away by sudden terrors!” Psalm 73:18-19.
“For He says to Moses, “I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION.” So then it does not depend on the man who wills or the man who runs, but on God who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “FOR THIS VERY PURPOSE I RAISED YOU UP, TO DEMONSTRATE MY POWER IN YOU, AND THAT MY NAME MIGHT BE PROCLAIMED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE EARTH.” So then He has mercy on whom He desires, and He hardens whom He desires.
You will say to me then, “Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?” On the contrary, who are you, O man, who answers back to God? The thing molded will not say to the molder, “Why did you make me like this,” will it? Or does not the potter have a right over the clay, to make from the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for common use? What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction? And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory, even us, whom He also called, not from among Jews only, but also from among Gentiles.” Romans 9:15-24.
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 