Judgment & Joy
Christmas is a season for joy; for remembering that in spite of the suffering and sorrow the world has to offer, God has stepped in and is bringing all things to right. A part of that plan of God’s, an unpleasant part in many opinions, is judgment. However, if there was no justice, if God was not a holy and consistent God—then how could their also be a future of hope when all the things that bring pain in this world would be no more?
Judgment is necessary in a reality where love exists. Many ask, if God really is a loving God, how can there be pain and suffering in the world? For God to truly be a God of love with a creation He can love that is able to love back, He had to create a creation with free will. There had to be a choice and it had to be a real choice. It was almost (or apparently was) inevitable that creation would exercise its free will and reject God. Yet now, thanks to Christmas and the cross, there is once again a choice available. People can chose to turn and live God’s way and avoid the judgment that awaits mankind. That is a true source for joy!
Sodom and Gomorrah are the cities that epitomize the judgment of God against the evil that causes pain and suffering in the world. One of the most interesting aspects of that story is the way God and Abraham interact before the destruction occurs. God tells Abraham what He is about to do, and Abraham pleads for the city.
That is a big part of our task as Christians today and a good reminder for the Christmas season. God has told us the future that awaits the world. We have a role to play in God’s plan of redemption for the world. However, one of the most important things we can do is pray for the lost of the world. Pray for God to delay His judgment. Pray for more time so that more people can turn to Him.
Judgment is necessary in a reality where love exists. Many ask, if God really is a loving God, how can there be pain and suffering in the world? For God to truly be a God of love with a creation He can love that is able to love back, He had to create a creation with free will. There had to be a choice and it had to be a real choice. It was almost (or apparently was) inevitable that creation would exercise its free will and reject God. Yet now, thanks to Christmas and the cross, there is once again a choice available. People can chose to turn and live God’s way and avoid the judgment that awaits mankind. That is a true source for joy!
Sodom and Gomorrah are the cities that epitomize the judgment of God against the evil that causes pain and suffering in the world. One of the most interesting aspects of that story is the way God and Abraham interact before the destruction occurs. God tells Abraham what He is about to do, and Abraham pleads for the city.
That is a big part of our task as Christians today and a good reminder for the Christmas season. God has told us the future that awaits the world. We have a role to play in God’s plan of redemption for the world. However, one of the most important things we can do is pray for the lost of the world. Pray for God to delay His judgment. Pray for more time so that more people can turn to Him.
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