Articles
God’s Righteous Judgments – Rev. 16
God’s Righteous Judgments – Rev. 16
“But, if it is true that baptism is for the remission of sins, what about my grandma?” Many of us have faced this question, not just being asked by others but from a personal situation. I believe the correct answer is simply that whatever happens, God will be fair, just, righteous.
Like Abraham, we can proclaim: “Shall not the Judge of all the earth deal justly?” Included in this IS also the kindness, love, and mercy of God. At the same time, “14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; Lovingkindness and truth go before You” (Psalms 89:14).
Revelation deals on a broader scale of judgment, but the principle of God’s judgment is yet the same.
· Revelation 15:3 And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!
· Revelation 16:7 And I heard the altar saying, “Yes, Lord God the Almighty, true and just are your judgments!”
· Revelation 19:2 for his judgments are true and just; for he has judged the great prostitute who corrupted the earth with her immorality, and has avenged on her the blood of his servants.”
This is particularly true concerning those who not only reject the gospel but persecute the people of God: “… God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you,” (2 Thess. 1:6, read the context of vs. 4-10).
Things of this life often leaves us perplexed. What we are TOLD is God’s character and principles of action. What we don’t know are the specifics of such temporal judgments. Such judgments of God include aspects that we do not and cannot know: the exact situation and history of a person or people, the thoughts and intents of the heart, the opportunities that they have had, etc. Throw into this mix, our emotional attachments, and we simply are not able to know who, what, when, and where God will act. However, we know that He will only do that which is right!
What we can know is what God has revealed unto us. Under the Old Covenant, God warned:
· 29 "The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29
What did he say that I must do? How does he instruct ME to live? Are we looking for loop-holes and exceptions, or are we trying to please God? Do we trust God even when we can’t understand ‘providence’? “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding” (Proverbs 3:5).
Hugh DeLong
