Judgment

Judgment
Do you believe God still punishes today? Many people don't. One man I know was adamant on that score. He based it on God's love. God is a loving God. He knew (admitted) God was also righteous but he felt love was the most important attribute of God. God would never punish people, relying on his love to bring them back.

I have heard others say since Jesus died on the cross for all our sins things are different now. The God of the Old Testament is now relating to us differently. He punished in the old covenant. We are under a new covenant now, a covenant of grace.

But I think if you look at the experience of history you see a different story. I believe still judges individuals because he is righteous. He calls us to be righteous as well. And he still judges nations. Perhaps you can see it more as logical consequences of bad choices.

This country has seen itself as chosen. Many Christians have seen this country as like Israel taking over a promised land. Perhaps it was. But certainly no longer. As we have increasingly rejected God so God will reject us. Some seem to think they can say God does not exist and poof! he is gone. I guess if we are gods then we can create our own reality. What foolishness!

If we look at the record of the original chosen people we see God expected holiness and compassion out of his chosen people. Being special did not come without responsibility. Perhaps it is not punishment as much as it is consequences. As people in this country think they are entitled rather than thinking they are responsible then they will fall like ripe fruit.

People think that if they have an unwanted pregnancy they have the right to kill it because it is inconvenient. They do not have to be responsible for their actions.

If people get over committed financially and feel they have too much debt forget about being responsible for their actions, just declare bankruptcy. Blame it on someone else. Call yourself a victim. Demand that the government bail you out.

If we get sick we have a right to health care. We don't have to pay for it. Get that rich guy over there to pay for it. He won't mind.

If we are hungry we have a right to food, and TV, and transportation, and a nice house. Rather than thinking about working for it, being responsible. Nevermind giving up luxuries, tightening the belt, eating beans and rice for a time, getting a temporary second job. Responsibility would be to abstain for a time to pay off the bills.

If one gets a girl pregnant, be a man, take responsibility, marry her or if she will not support her in carrying the child to term and giving the baby up for adoption. Take responsibility for your actions as far as you can. And you can more than you at first think.

People can persevere more than they might think. The situation often seem the most impossible just before the breakthrough. Trust God to see you through. God loves a man/woman who perseveres.

The same man who said God is mostly love also rejected the idea that our nation was chosen. Perhaps he saw the other side, being chosen come with responsibility. God demanded that his chosen Israel be faithful to him. God told them that if they were not, he would punish them.

The rest of the world is jealous of our country, our lifestyle. Like the nations around Israel it is entirely possible we will be destroyed from without or from within by immigrants who feel disenfranchised. David Wilkerson has recently predicted we will see many fires like a war, in our cities very soon. I am scared.

I feel like Jeremiah, predicting doom. When it happens I will be affected just like everyone else. Jeremiah became a refugee. I don't think it is impossible that I too could be a refugee. I will lose everything like everyone else. I have lose 30% of my retirement nest egg. Many have lost more. But it is probably not over. I hope things get better but things could get much worse. I can imagine it, can you?