In Case You Were Wondering

“And I will utter My judgments against them touching all their wickedness, who have forsaken Me, and have burned incense unto other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.”  Jeremiah 1:16     “If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek My face, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”  II Chronicles 7:14

Don’t you ever wonder why God doesn’t go ahead and bring His wrath down upon all those who practice lawlessness, evil, and blasphemy?  I don’t have to list all the things going on in our world today, particularly in the U.S., that are so against the Word of God.  Anyone who has a real conscience is aware.  I have been reading that there are many who claim to be Christians who are falling for all kinds of anti-Christian doctrines and practices, causing those who cling to God’s Word as the infallible truth for all men and women to become a smaller and smaller minority.  Christians, I am talking about real Christians, those who have been born again and are committed to living their lives for Christ, have always been in the minority regardless of what the polls say.  Many folks claim to be Christians only in comparison to followers of other religions or cults.

Going back to the subject of God’s wrath, who is it who actually bears the brunt of God’s chastisement?  Is it not His own people?  The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us that the Lord disciplines those who belong to Him.  The writer was rather blunt when he wrote that if we be without chastisement, because we all are sinners, then we are bastards and not His children (12:6-8).  Ancient Israel was God’s chosen people of which He was their God who provided provision and protection, and they were to honor, serve, and worship Him and Him alone.  However, they became idolatrous, coming under the influence of their neighboring lands, abandoned God, and worshipped gods of their own making.  They thought God would ignore their sin.  These other idolatrous nations were not God’s main focus.  Israel, His people, was His main focus.  They were His children, and it was His responsibility to correct them when they became disobedient.  Think of it this way:  parents are responsible for their own children, not their neighbor’s children.  It is the responsibility of parents to train, correct, and render punishment when necessary in order for their children to grow up with integrity, self-discipline, and become an asset to society and not a burden.

Fast forward to today.  Evil is still present with us.  We don’t have to look far to see the disregard for law and the fact that many believe they are “entitled” to things for which they did not work.  Of course, it’s worse than that.  The murder rate is up in the big cities (over 230 killed this past weekend), and I am afraid that it won’t be long before it spreads to the suburbs and small towns.  We wonder why God doesn’t intervene and bring judgment upon all those who do evil.  The prophet Habakkuk wondered that also.  He asked god, “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and Thou wilt not hear! Even cry out unto Thee of violence, and Thou wilt not save…..Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.” (Habakkuk 1:2,4).  The prophet wasn’t fretting over the sins of Israel’s enemies, but rather over the sins of God’s people, the Israelites.

Many of Israel’s ancient enemies were destroyed mostly by way of battle, but they were not completely eliminated.  They were left to continue to live among God’s people just like how believers are surrounded by those who do not honor nor worship the Lord.  One day, though, the Lord will separate the “tares” from the “wheat” (Matthew 13:30), the bad from the good (Matthew 13:49).  Does God only care about believers?  II Peter 3:9 tells us that God is patient with people, “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance”.  However, God is also a God of justice.  He rewards those who serve Him, but those who will not receive Him and His plan of salvation will reap the results of their choice to reject Him.

I Peter 4:17-18 tells us that one day judgment will come but it will begin at the house of God, and eventually extend upon those who do not obey the gospel of God.  What is Peter saying to us, all of us who claim to be Christians?  I think that he is warning us that when judgment falls, it will fall on all those who professed to be followers of Christ, but did not live for Him.  It behooves true believers to stand strong for the truth and not back down nor surrender to the devil, cancel culture, false teaching, or anything else that defies God’s Word.  I have been reading articles on line about churches who are allowing all sorts of ungodly doctrine, lies, political correctness, politics, legalism, and other anti-scriptural dogmas to infiltrate the church body.  God cares about all people, but He is particularly concerned about all those who claim to be His children.  When the majority of Christian churches, those who have been called out to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, fall in line with the devil, look for God’s judgment to come quickly.