Sometimes I just don’t understand God … and maybe it’s a good thing I don’t.
Because if God shared some of His powers with me for a day – a frightening thought – I’d start zapping certain people.
Several politicians blatantly lie to the American people on television?
Zap … one of them has a heart attack on camera.
A Hollywood producer makes a film touting the virtues of perverted sex?
Zap … the cast and crew come down with a mysterious illness, killing half of them.
A board member begins spreading false rumors designed to force his pastor’s resignation?
Zap … he can’t speak for six months.
It’s long been my opinion that if God meted out a little instant divine judgment here and there, far more people would obey His commands … and take Him more seriously.
The Lord certainly did this sort of thing in both Testaments … both to unbelievers and believers:
*When Lot’s wife hesitated to fully obey the Lord, she was buried under an avalanche of salt.
*When Korah and his buddies rebelled against Moses, the earth opened up and they fell to their deaths.
*When Achan stole forbidden plunder from Ai, he was instantly executed.
*When Zechariah failed to believe Gabriel’s announcement of John’s birth, Zechariah was struck dumb until his son was born.
*When Ananias and Sapphira claimed to have given the entire proceeds of their property sale to the Lord – but kept back some income for themselves – God struck them both dead.
*When King Herod Agrippa heard the crowd yell, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man,” Luke writes, “Immediately because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died.”
In Scripture, God doesn’t zap every sinner … or every sin … or else everybody but Jesus would have died.
No, He zaps people on rare occasions … and we don’t know His criteria … but everybody standing nearby goes, “Uh oh, I better do what God says from now on!”
Couldn’t we use just a little bit of that today?
I have a theory that an increasing number of people don’t believe in God because they see little or no evidence of His judgment on sin.
*They see musical celebrities engaging in simulated sex on stage … and getting away with it.
*They watch televangelists distort Scripture and harm people’s lives … and nothing happens.
*They hear about priests who take advantage of young boys … and they’re transferred to other parishes.
So many people in our day keep pushing the envelope … and walking toward degradation … all the while defying God by inwardly saying, “God, if You’re really there, You’ve got to punish that behavior!”
But there’s no punishment … and no zapping … just silence.
So many people conclude, “God must not exist … or if He does, He’s certainly powerless.”
Let’s be honest:
*I don’t mind if God zaps big sins … as long as He lays off my little ones.
*And it’s okay if God zaps people I don’t know … just so He lays off people I do know.
*And I don’t care if God zaps people for specific sins … just so He doesn’t zap me for mine.
*And it’s all right if God zaps unbelievers instantly … just so He gives believers plenty of time to repent.
But then we read 1 Peter 4:17-18:
“For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And, ‘If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?'”
Many of us assume that when judgment does break out on our world, God will zap unbelievers first, and partially protect believers. Certainly Revelation 6-19 lends credence to this argument.
But Peter’s words indicate that when God does shift into “judgment mode,” He may very well start with His own people first … and we’re in no hurry for that to occur.
I heard this statement years ago: “God’s judgment may be slow, but it’s sure.”
For the most part, I agree with that sentiment. God doesn’t deal with most sins instantly … even though He will deal with them eventually.
But I’m still baffled … and sometimes disappointed … that He doesn’t deal with everyone’s sins more quickly.
Yes, I understand that He’s not willing for any to perish, and for all to come to repentance.
But if He meted out a little justice on television, or took out a few key politicians while caucusing … and the judgments could directly be tied back to Him … wouldn’t more people believe in Him?
Maybe … or maybe not … and that’s why it’s good that I’m not God.
I love this because I feel in my spirit that it is so true. We do need God so desperately in this world today, and one does wonder why more is not done; however, I am inclined to believe that God is waiting for us to do something. Why would God do anything for us when we have taken Him out of our schools, government, and lives? Many people today don’t believe in being part of the local church. They think they can still go to Heaven and never enter a church. Many people believe that miracles are not for today, and probably never were experienced in the first place. Many, many young people today believe that the church is the last place they would go, because no one goes much anymore and the ones who do go are just hypocrites. Our government is just a cesspool of lies and bad laws. Is there any hope? Yes, our God will help us again as He has many times before if we will bow our knee and acknowledge Him as the only One who can help us. May God have mercy on all of us in America. I truly believe that Jim Myers is a voice that God is using today. His knowledge of God and of the human spirit will be heard by many who will listen to no one else. I pray that God will use him mightily as he ministers to our pastors and leaders who need him so much. God Bless
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Thanks for reading and for your kind words, Lucy. I agree with you: we do need to bow our knees and acknowledge Him as the only One who can help us. It seems to me that kind of righteous behavior needs to begin with God’s people. I saw on the news today that there have been 3 earthquakes in Hollywood over the past 10 days, but they’ve all been small ones. Will people turn to God when The Big One comes? We’ll see!
Jim
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Honestly I agree with you, Jim. As parents we know that if we mete out both discipline and love consistently, our children know that we mean what we say and they trust us.
But I think it’s a good thing that I’m not God either…
I think it also takes Christians supporting the right things. Last year I made a decision that I would only support grocery stores that do not display offensive magazines at the checkout counter where children are likely to see them. Is it inconvenient? Sure, but if a few hundred Christians did the same it might hurt the retailer I left where they truly feel the pain-in their financial statements. I stopped watching one of my favorite programs, American Idol, the year they invited Lady Gaga to be a mentor. But I understand that ultimately it is the Lord who will have the ultimate say-and I trust Him.
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Thanks for your thoughts, Ce Ce. I truly believe that if God zapped a few people here and there, more might believe in Him, so sometimes I’m mystified that He doesn’t do that more often. I stopped watching the Grammys because I can’t stomach the blatant Christian bashing and occultism on display. And I think many of those entertainers think, “If God does exist, He doesn’t seem to react to my performance negatively, so what’s the big deal?” Beyoncé used to claim a Christian background … but her public behavior is far from Christian. So why doesn’t God do something instant and obvious like He did in Scripture?
Always wondering …
Jim
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