Ancient Words For Today - 72
Many people are afraid of God and so run in the opposite direction and hide from Him because they believe He is a vengeful God, waiting to punish us when we break His commandments. It is true that God hates sin, which separates people from Him, and that there will be an ultimate judgment day when God will judge the living and the dead - all those who have have broken His commandments. God's judgment will reveal two groups of people: those who have rejected God's plan of salvation through Jesus Christ and are condemned, and those who have been forgiven and pardoned, by God's grace - through Faith in Jesus Christ, and received the gift of eternal life. John the apostle explained it this way:
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. John 3:16-20
So, while it is true that God will ultimately judge sinners (which includes all of mankind), it also is true that God is merciful, gracious, compassionate and longsuffering. Peter the apostle said: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9 By an act of God's mercy and grace, He provided a way for sinful man to be reconciled to Himself. Consider the following verses that demonstrate God's grace, mercy and love to us:
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him. John 1:14-18
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Matthew 9:35-6
But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:4-10
Understanding the love, mercy, compassion, and grace that our Heavenly Father and our Lord Jesus Christ have bestowed upon us - it is only fitting that we treat others in the same way, as Peter instructed:
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.1Peter 3:8-9
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. Rev 22:21 ( The Last Verse in the Bible)