How could a loving GOD?

part 1

The Ebola virus is scary.  My intent is not to scare anyone but to give you an illustration in order that you have a clearer picture of why GOD must do what HE will do.  We have all heard about the toll the Ebola virus is taking on lives.  Ebola is a viral hemorrhagic (bleeding) illness that has a high fatality rate.  It spreads easily from person to person and the best way to prevent its spread is to isolate patients and use thorough disinfection protocols and any medical personnel who deal with Ebola patients must wear protective face masks, gowns, gloves and goggles as barriers against the virus.  It is the same with sin.   Sins, just like the Ebola virus, defiles and spreads to all those it touches.

Have you ever heard someone say, “GOD would never do that, HE is a GOD of love.”?

That statement covers a lot of territory but the facet of that statement that my heart is focused on today is judgment.  Sin is like the Ebola virus, Sin must be stopped because sin is an evil that defiles and spreads.   The wrath of GOD on sin is HIS love in action to protect HIS children from what would defile and destroy them.

There is more to judgment than is often told … the whys, the who, the whens, the wheres and the whats,  There seems to be a great deal of confusion and wrong conclusions on this subject.  I think it may be due to the fact that we clump the whole subject of judgment together taking every verse that speaks of the judgment as pertaining to one event  rather than taking the time and effort to search it out. 

·         Study to show yourself approved unto GOD, a workman (it takes work) that needs not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth.  2 Timothy 2:15

·         It is the glory of GOD to conceal a matter but the honor of kings to search it out a matter. Proverbs 25:2

The answers are in HIS word… a piece here and a piece there throughout the 66 books that make up the Bible.  When it comes to this matter of judgment, I have found in GOD’s word not just one but several judgments spoken of with different whys, whens, where’s and whats…  and I would like to take you on a 2 part topical study of judgment and  chart a general out line of several judgments  in part 2 so you can go search them out for yourselves.  However, I want to 1st lay a solid foundation as to why GOD, a GOD of love, has wrath and must  judge.  As I have already said,  sin must be punished and eradicated because, like germs, sin spreads and defiles all It touches. 

Since the 1^st sin of humans judgment was a necessity… because

·          the wages of sin is death Romans 6:23

·         all have sinned and come short of the glory of GOD Romans 3:23

·         it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. Hebrews 9:27

When GOD warned Adam not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil it wasn’t to deprive him of good but to keep him from evil. 

Yesterday someone asked me if GOD was pro-sex…  She had heard a speaker say this and it had raised a red flag in her heart.  When I answered yes, GOD made sex and said, “Go multiply.”  Therefore we must conclude that GOD is definitely pro-sex.

.    She countered,. “ The sex paraded  today seems evil”   She is right for the devil has taken something good and twisted it so that  much of the sex emphasis today is corrupted, perverted and evil, not the GOD planned, ordained and GOD blessed union of love producing children.   

My friend went on to say  “If sex is OK then why before they sinned  did the Bible say they were naked and not ashamed but after they sinned they saw that they were naked and were ashamed for they covered themselves with leaves and hid from GOD.  (you cover up and hide what you don’t want another to see) They didn’t have kids before they sinned.” Genesis 2:25,  3:7,10 

.      A covering of the glory or light that surrounded them from being in the presence of  GOD was gone  when they sinned but also their perspective on life changed when they ate the forbidden fruit.   When they ate of the fruit they got three things not of GOD:  the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.

·         Do not love the world, nor the things in the world.  If anyone loves the world, the love of the FATHER is not in him.  For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, & the lust of the eyes & the boastful pride of life is not from the FATHER but is from the world.1 John 2:15,16

·         … the whole world lies in the arms (power) of the evil one.  I John 5:19

We need to recognize there are 2 basic ways of thinking… GOD’s way and the way of the world (authored by the devil). 

·         You are doing the things your own father does… If GOD were your father, you would love ME, for I came from GOD and now am here.   I have not come on MY own; but HE sent ME. Why don’t you understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear MY word.  You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father.  He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.  Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature; for he is a liar and the father of lies.  John 8:41-44

·         He who belongs to GOD hears what GOD says.  The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to GOD.  John 8:47

Since sin entered into the world our thinking leans to the way of the world.  Another name of that is human standards.

·         You judge by human standards… John 8:15

Even after we are saved,  we think the “human or world’s”  thoughts to a certain extent for our old sin nature lurks within us and the influence of sin is all around us.  Therefore, we believers are told to be proactive and to daily offer ourselves up as living sacrifices (that is laying aside- pushing away our own ways, our own plans and pleasures, even our own words) with the resulting effect of having our minds transformed into GOD’s way of thinking.  (it is not a downer… I have found that GOD’s ways are much more fulfilling that the worlds…

·         GOD desires to bless you, not hurt or rob you.  HIS plan is to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11

·         Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of GOD’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to GOD.. this is your spiritual act of worship, (your reasonable service KJ) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed (Greek word is metamorphosis- you know- from a caterpillar to a butterfly) by the renewing of your mind, that you may be able to approve GOD’s will that it is good, acceptable and perfect (lacks nothing).  Romans 12:1,3

·         Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge HIM and HE will direct your path.  Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and depart from evil.  Proverbs 3:5-7

·         Commit all you do to the LORD and your thoughts will be established. Proverbs 16:3

If you will push away your own thoughts and ways and agendas, and submit to GOD your lives will be transformed  for your minds will be renewed so you can see each situation the way GOD sees it.

Sin is doing things our own way (human standards -authored by the devil). Judgment must come to get rid of sin and put things in order.  Judgment is GOD’s wrath on sin.   HE hates sin because it harms those HE loves.  So you see GOD’s wrath is a very real part of HIS love.

JESUS said, “MY teaching is not MY own.  It comes from HIM who sent ME.  If anyone chooses to do GOD’s will, he will know whether a teaching comes from GOD  or if that one is speaking on his own”  John 7:16,17

Please prayerfully check out what I have said in the Bible, and I hope you come back for part 2.

Hugs

Sharon