The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Isaiah 3:11,
"Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done."
As God reveals himself through the pages of Scripture, we find he has two qualities he delights in, two qualities he exercises, he expresses, throughout all ages. These two qualities Paul sums up as his "kindness and sternness", "Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off." Romans 11:22.
Here is how the Lord put it through his prophet, Jeremiah, "let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight..." Jeremiah 9:24.
When God pays back the wicked for "what their hands have done", he expresses his justice. His ultimate expression of justice for all mankind individually will take place in the great white throne judgment that we read of in Revelation 20. There we find that all people will be raised from the dead, and those whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life will be cast into a fiery lake of burning sulfur.
Those whose names appear in the Lamb's book of life have their names there, not because of "righteous things we have done", Titus 3:4-5, but because they have placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ, "To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God", John 1:12. Also, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them." John 3:36.
"Woe to the wicked! Disaster is upon them! They will be paid back for what their hands have done."
As God reveals himself through the pages of Scripture, we find he has two qualities he delights in, two qualities he exercises, he expresses, throughout all ages. These two qualities Paul sums up as his "kindness and sternness", "Consider therefore the kindness and sternness of God: sternness to those who fell, but kindness to you, provided that you continue in his kindness. Otherwise, you also will be cut off." Romans 11:22.
Here is how the Lord put it through his prophet, Jeremiah, "let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight..." Jeremiah 9:24.
When God pays back the wicked for "what their hands have done", he expresses his justice. His ultimate expression of justice for all mankind individually will take place in the great white throne judgment that we read of in Revelation 20. There we find that all people will be raised from the dead, and those whose names are not written in the Lamb's book of life will be cast into a fiery lake of burning sulfur.
Those whose names appear in the Lamb's book of life have their names there, not because of "righteous things we have done", Titus 3:4-5, but because they have placed their faith and trust in Jesus Christ, "To all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God", John 1:12. Also, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them." John 3:36.
While in this life, however, we can already find ourselves in the cross-hairs of God's judgement, condemnation and the misery his justice can bring to us. While we do not see a full accounting for the sins of each and every person in this life, when a person's sinful condition impinges upon the agenda God has of building his kingdom, he can certainly find himself as the object of God's wrath.
The parable of the weeds we read in Matthew 13:24-30 teaches us that individuals will not experience God's final judgment of them for their lives on earth until after the resurrection. Meanwhile, however, as demonstrated in the sinfulness of Judah and Jerusalem, and God's judgment of the nation, we can suffer plenty in this life for living a life in rebellion against God.
How thankful I am that Jesus Christ has already paid the penalty for all of my sins. How thankful I am he has made a way for me and that through him, I have been granted access into the family of God with my name entered into the lamb's book of life. How thankful I am that I do not have to face God's judgment! It only takes faith.
How about you?
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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