Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Last week I outlined seven things the Apostle Paul mentions about humanity.
- People knew God perfectly well.
- Refusing to worship him.
- They trivialized themselves.
- There was neither sense nor direction.
- They were illiterate regarding life.
- They traded the glory of God for cheap figurines.
- They were living in a pigpen.
Last week I wrote about this.
- Worse followed.
- They forget how to be human
- Sexually confused
- God quit bothering them
- It’s not that they don’t know better
Remember I am talking about humanity, God’s prize creation, and the basic reality of God.
Those people are on a dark spiral downward. But if you think that leaves you on the high ground where you can point your finger at others, think again. Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection for your own crimes and misdemeanors.
But God isn’t so easily diverted. He sees right through smoke screens and holds you to what you’ve done.
You didn’t think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard?
Or did you think that because he’s such a nice God, he’d let you off the hook? Better think this one through from the beginning. God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.
You’re not getting by with anything. Every refusal and avoidance of God adds fuel to the fire. The day is coming when it’s going to blaze hot and high, God’s fiery and righteous judgment.
Make no mistake: In the end you get what’s coming to you –
Real Life for those who work on God’s side,
but to those who insist on getting their own way and take the path of least resistance, Fire!
Romans 2:1-8 The Message
Those people are on a dark spiral downward.
God the Holy Spirit reveals to the apostle the consequences of willfully turning away from God.
It is a dark spiral downward. The words paint a picture of a plane caught in a storm that violently throws the plane off course causing it to spiral downward.
It is life-threatening. It isn’t a pretty picture; only a miracle will bring a happy outcome.
The image is one that should concern Christ-followers and call them to act.
However, the Apostle Paul addresses a group of followers with a different mindset.
If you think that leaves you on the high ground, think again.
These people call themselves believers, but instead of extending a helping hand, point an accusatory finger.
The apostle cuts to the chase when he says, “Every time you criticize someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one.”
Ouch!
His next statement sounds (to me) like he is talking to professional politicians.
“Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanors.”
Instead of helping those in need, they use their plight to cover up their sin.
Did you think that because he’s such a nice God, he’d let you off the hook?
Religious people are those with an outward appearance of knowing God—the things they say, or the way they say it—but in reality, they are hiding deep secrets. The worst part is they have deceived themselves into thinking God does not see what they are doing.
The Apostle Paul says,
“But God isn’t so easily diverted. He sees right through all such smoke screens and holds you to what you’ve done.
You didn’t think, did you, that just by pointing your finger at others you would distract God from seeing all your misdoings and from coming down on you hard?”
There is an Old Testament Proverb that says God’s correction is because he loves you. If he is coming down hard on you, it is to persuade you to change your heart and your path.
Real Life for those who work on God’s side.
Real life is eternal, and earth-bound living prepares you for real life. If you think you are living real life today, you may need a (spiritual) heart check-up.
Jesus said his followers will have tribulation (labor, trials, testings, and turmoils) in this world.
That doesn’t mean life is doom and gloom. It means that real life begins when eternity is entered.
Those who insist on getting their own way and take the path of least resistance, Fire!
This is one of the mysteries (to me, anyway) about God. The Bible says he is not willing for anyone to perish—die apart from knowing Jesus and live for eternity away from him—but he created humanity with the freedom to choose.
This means you choose to:
- die apart from God.
- reject Jesus.
- Spend eternity apart from God (The Bible calls it going to Hell).
The apostle says the consequence of your choice is Fire!
To be continued…
A close personal relationship with the Godhead provides you a living hope. It is a living anticipation that is full of expectation of something good happening.
A close personal relationship with the Godhead is a journey. I invite you to follow along. As I learn, I will pass it along so you, too, can learn. I hope that as you learn, you can pass it along so that I (and others) might learn.
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