When God punishes evil, we notice the destruction, and tend to ignore the mercy shown. When God rained fire and brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah, God listened to Abraham’s intercession, and saved from the overthrow three people who feared God enough to flee when they were warned.
There has been no defense. No jury decided the case. There will be no appeal. The convict trembles as the Judge reads his sentence: “Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41). What a contrast to the godly to whom the Judge will say, “Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (verse 34).
“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether” (Psalm 19:7-9).
Biblical morality has the good of children at heart. We see God’s heart for children in every moral precept He established. Sexual immorality, the most selfish of sins, victimizes children. And beware! The God of the Bible is consistently portrayed as the avenger of innocent victims (Deuteronomy 10:17, 18). We are told in His Word that if our religion is pure, we, like God, will help such victims, while keeping ourselves unspotted by sin (James 1:27).
To hear them talk, you’d say skeptics consider religion nonsense, a waste of time and resources. “The opiate of the masses,” to quote the renowned founder of Communism, Karl Marx.
Three words remind us that God once gave a law. He wasn’t afraid to cut straight across men’s and women’s natural bent and say, “No, no! . . . Thou halt not . . .”
The year 2009 dawns upon unprecedented divorce, abortion, domestic violence, perverse lifestyles, and other evidences of the breakdown of the home. This year also dawns upon increased evidences of hope.
The heathen hunches over a block of wood. He whittles out a grotesque figure about two feet tall. Then he falls down and worships it. We call that an idol, and spell his god with a small “g.”
Part of the world’s religion idealizes violence, even suicide. Another part is so feckless (weak, ineffective), it dares not suggest so much as a standard of dress or conduct to its own members.
The world offers a lot, but delivers little. “The pursuit of happiness” is an illusory chase. Few get what they would consider their fair share of pleasure, wealth, or even acceptance here. Illness, loss of friendships, personal disaster, and bereavement happen when least expected. Disappointment turns to frustration, and grief, even despair, may follow. But Jesus came to heal the brokenhearted (Luke 4:18).