WHEN GOD RENDERS DIVINE JUSTICE
ECCL. 8:12-13
1. INTRODUCTION. AS WE OBSERVE THE WICKED AND HORRIFIC ACTS OF TERRORISM AND VIOLENCE PERPETRATED BY EVIL MEN AND WOMEN, WE ASK OURSELVES THE AGE OLD QUESTION, “WHY DOES GOD ALLOW BAD THINGS TO HAPPEN TO GOOD PEOPLE?” IT SEEMS THAT THE WICKED ARE GETTING AWAY WITH THEIR SINFUL DEEDS AND THEIR ACTS GO UNCHECKED AND UNPUNISHED. IT APPEARS THAT THE SCALES TIP IN FAVOR OF THE WICKED. IT SEEMS THAT THEY LIVE LONG LIVES, WHILE THE LIVES OF THE RIGHTEOUS ARE SEEMINGLY CUT SHORT. BUT MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS, WE MUST NOT ALLOW OURSELVES TO BECOME DISCOMBOBULATED BECAUSE THE BIBLE IS TRUE WHEN IT STATES IN PSALMS 37:1-2, “FRET NOT THYSELF BECAUSE OF EVILDOERS, NEITHER BE THOU ENVIOUS AGAINST THE WORKERS OF INIQUITY. FOR THEY SHALL SOON BE CUT DOWN LIKE THE GRASS, AND WITHER AS THE GREEN HERB. “ SOONER OR LATER, GOD CATCHES UP WITH THE ACTS OF THE WICKED, AND THEY WILL EVENTUALLY GET WHAT THEY DESERVE WHEN GOD RENDERS DIVINE JUSTICE.
2. THE TEXT. THE WRITER DEALS WITH THE SUBJECT OF SIN AND THE ACTS OF THE SINFUL.
a) AND WHILE IT MAY LOOK LIKE THE WICKED ARE GETTING AWAY WITH MURDER; REST ASSURED THAT GOD SEES EVERYTHING THEY DO.
b) NOTHING ESCAPES THE EVER SURVEILLANCE EYES OF ALMIGHTY GOD.
c) THE REASON THAT IT APPEARS THAT GOD DELAYS HIS DIVINE JUSTICE IS BECAUSE GOD IS LONG SUFFERING, THEREFORE, IN SOME INSTANCES, HE GIVES SINNERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO REPENT.
d) IN OTHER INSTANCES HIS DIVINE JUSTICE IS SWIFT AND CONSUMING.
e) SINNERS OFTEN THINK THAT BECAUSE GOD HAS NOT ACTED UPON THEIR DEEDS, THEY CAN CONTINUE ON THE PATH THAT THEY ARE TRODDING.
f) THEY SAY THAT GOD HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING YET. THEY NEED TO REMEMBER THE YET!
g) AND JUST AS GOD WILL PUNISH THOSE WHO CONTINUE TO DO WRONG, HE WILL REWARD THOSE WHO LOVE HIM AND REVERENCE HIM.
h) YES, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, GOD WILL TIP THE SCALES OF DIVINE JUSTICE IN THE DIRECTION OF THE RIGHTEOUS.
3. WHAT’S IN STORE FOR THE WICKED. GOD WILL EITHER DEAL WITH THEIR WICKEDNESS IN THIS LIFE OR THE LIFE TO COME.
a) SINNERS WHO DIE WITHOUT CHRIST, WILL EXPERIENCE ETERNAL SEPARATION FROM GOD IN HELL AND IN THE LAKE OF FIRE.
b) THERE WILL BE NO END TO THEIR TORMENT.
c) MATT. 13:42, TEACHES, “AND SHALL CAST THEM INTO A FURNACE OF FIRE: THERE SHALL BE WAILING AND GNASHING OF TEETH.”
d) SINCE GOD IS HOLY, HE MUST DEAL WITH SIN.
e) SINCE HE IS LOVING, HE ALWAYS PROVIDES AN OPPORTUNITY TO REPENT. REV. 2:21, “AND I GAVE HER SPACE TO REPENT OF HER FORNICATION; AND SHE REPENTED NOT.”
f) BUT THERE WILL COME A TIME WHEN GOD’S GRACE IS RESTRAINED AND HE IS NO LONGER INTERESTED IN REPENTANCE, BUT PUNISHMENT; REV. 9:5-6, “AND TO THEM IT WAS GIVEN THAT THEY SHOULD NOT KILL THEM, BUT THAT THEY SHOULD BE TORMENTED FIVE MONTHS: AND THEIR TORMENT WAS AS THE TORMENT OF A SCORPION, WHEN HE STRIKETH A MAN.
AND IN THOSE DAYS SHALL MEN SEEK DEATH, AND SHALL NOT FIND IT; AND SHALL DESIRE TO DIE, AND DEATH SHALL FLEE FROM THEM.”
g) JOHNATHAN EDWARDS IN HIS CLASSIC SERMON, WHICH IS THE MOST FAMOUS SERMON EVER PREACHED, “SINNERS IN THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD,” SHARES THAT THE ONLY THING THAT IS KEEPING SINNERS OUT OF HELL RIGHT NOW IS THE GRACE OF GOD!
h) IS THERE A WAY TO AVOID GOD’S DIVINE JUSTICE? YES, REPENTANCE.
4. WHAT’S IN STORE FOR THE RIGHTEOUS. GOD HAS PROMISED TO BLESS HIS PEOPLE NOW AND IN THE ETERNAL STATE OF GLORY. PSALM 37:3, “TRUST IN THE LORD, AND DO GOOD; SO SHALT THOU DWELL IN THE LAND, AND VERILY THOU SHALT BE FED. 1 COR. 2:9, “BUT AS IT IS WRITTEN, EYE HATH NOT SEEN, NOR EAR HEARD, NEITHER HAVE ENTERED INTO THE HEART OF MAN, THE THINGS WHICH GOD HATH PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM.”
a) GOD OBLIGATES HIMSELF TO HIMSELF TO BLESS HIS PEOPLE.
b) BELIEVERS WILL EXPERIENCE ETERNAL HAPPINESS AND JOY AS WE HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED IT BEFORE.
c) THERE WILL BE NO PAIN, NO SORROW, NO DEATH, AND NO TEARS.
d) GOD SHALL REWARD HIS PEOPLE WITH CROWNS AND WHITE ROBES.
e) THE QUESTION IS WILL YOU BE BLESSED OR WILL YOU BE CURSED.
f) YES, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, GOD WILL RENDER HIS DIVINE JUSTICE.
g) THE RIGHTEOUS WILL HEAR HIM SAY WELL DONE.
h) WHILE THE WICKED WILL BE WELL DONE, WHEN HE TELLS THEM TO DEPART FROM HIM!
5. THREE POINTS/CONCLUSION.
a) ONE, GOD’S DIVINE JUSTICE MUST BE SATISFIED! SODOM AND GOMORRAH WOULD TESTIFY THAT GOD’S DIVINE JUSTICE MUST AND WILL BE SATISFIED.
b) TWO, THINGS ARE NOT ALWAYS AS THEY APPEAR. IT LOOKS LIKE THE WICKED ARE GETTING AWAY. BUT THEY AREN’T. IT LOOKS LIKE THE RIGHTEOUS ARE SUFFERING AT THE HANDS OF THE WICKED, BUT GOD WILL TURN IT AROUND. LAZARUS WOULD TESTIFY.
c) THREE, THE TIME IS NOW FOR THE WICKED TO REPENT AND FOR THE RIGHTEOUS TO KEEP TRUSTING GOD.
d) SO MY BROTHERS AND MY SISTERS…
• GIVE THE LORD THE BEST THAT YOU HAVE.
• LOVE THE LORD WITH ALL OF YOUR MIND, SOUL, AND HEART.
• KEEP YOUR MIND OF THE LORD.
• BLESS HIS HOLY NAME.
• STAND UP AND BE A WITNESS FOR THE LORD.
• DON’T LET ANYBODY AND NOTHING TURN YOU AROUND.
• SERVE THE LORD WITH GLADNESS.
• ENTER INTO HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING.
• AND INTO HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE.
• BE NOT DISMAYED WHATEVER BETIDE, GOD WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU!
