01/23/2021
We live in a chatoic, divided world; especially in the United States. I believe there are Christians on each side. It is too easy to point fingers at one another and ask God why He has not passed judgment on others who hold different beliefs than us. If this describes you, I prayerfully and lovingly ask that you pause for a moment to consider the following:
Something we should remember, when we ask God why He has not repaid someone's sin with swift justice:
Others asked the same question(s) regarding their fate and seeming lack of attention by God, much less His justice delivered. God's answer to their question(s) is the same as His answer to ours:
Numbers 14:18 (NASB)
18 The LORD is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression; but He will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generations.’
This means God extends His grace to us all, showing His patience rather than immediately executing judgement. Although He does not have to show patience, He does. Why? To give us opportunity to be convicted of our sin by the Holy Spirit, and recognizing our sin, repent off it, seeking His forgiveness, which is swift and immediate.
1 John 1:9 (NASB)
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
As for the length of His patience? It is different for each individual. HOWEVER, before we complain that He is being unfair, He reminds us:
Romans 2:4-8 (NASB)
4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who WILL RENDER TO EACH PERSON ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation.
Romans 9:15 (NASB)
15 For He says to Moses, "I WILL HAVE MERCY ON WHOM I HAVE MERCY, AND I WILL HAVE COMPASSION ON WHOM I HAVE COMPASSION."
Romans 9:19-20 (NASB)
19 You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who resists His will?" 20 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?
God is righteous. His judgements are righteous and true. We are not to look outward at others and ask "Why?" or "Why not?" or "How come?"; rather, we are to look inward to ourselves, asking God to show us our sins that we may repent of them and seek His forgiveness.
John 21:20-23 (NASB)
20 Peter, turning around, *saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; the one who also had leaned back on His bosom at the supper and said, "Lord, who is the one who betrays You?" 21 So Peter seeing him *said to Jesus, "Lord, and what about this man?" 22 Jesus *said to him, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? You follow Me!" 23 Therefore this saying went out among the brethren that that disciple would not die; yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but only, "If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?"
We do not and will not stand with others when we come before the Lord to account for the disobedience in our lives. Nor will we stand in judgement of others. We will have to answer for ourselves with noone else to blame. They will do the same.
Moral: Worry about your own sins, repenting and seeking forgiveness. Leave others to deal with their own.
May the grace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, be with you always.
In Christ's service and yours,
Bro. Chris
