But the God of the Old Testament, is exactly the same as the loving God who is portrayed in the New Testament, and revealed in Jesus Christ. A God who is also truly holy and righteous. The Bible says that retribution for human wickedness is certain to come. But, at the same time, we are taught that, “God is patient, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Let’s take the example of the Amorites. In their day, they were notorious for child sacrifices and all sorts of evil and immorality. But they were not destroyed straight-away. Hundreds of years beforehand, it was explained to Abraham, that, “the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.” The long-suffering Lord waited patiently for the Amorites to repent, before his terrible vengeance came upon them.
Judgement and salvation are two sides of the same coin. These stories in the Bible about judgement teach us that sin will always end in punishment and retribution. But these same stories are also a source of great comfort to those who cry out and long for justice and fairness in the world. For they tell us a time will certainly come when justice will be established, when retribution will come. And they also warn us, as we move closer and closer to the end time, that time is running out for all those who refuse the mercy and patience of God.
As that time draws near, the spiritual battle on earth and in heaven, between good and evil, is a battle which seems to be getting worse and worse (as the Bible tells us it will). But let us be thankful, that God has acted and done something about it. He has spared us from the final judgement, by enduring the worst punishment and retribution of all – the Cross – where the sinless Christ endured the retribution that should have been ours, and HE took it instead.
On Remembrance Sunday, we often recall the words of Sir Winston Churchill, “Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.”
But similar words apply to the Christian faith: “Never in the field of spiritual conflict was so much owed by so many to just one, Jesus Christ, our Redeemer and Lord, the Lamb of God, who takes on himself the retribution for our sins.”
“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down his life for his friends.” Jesus not only laid down his life, but in so doing, he also took all our retribution.
Yours in Christ
Robert
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