Here Come de Judge

Assuredly, I say to you, all these things will come upon this generation (Matthew 23:36).

And it did. In less than 40 years after Jesus spoke these words, Rome grew tired of the rebellious obstinance of the Jews and completely destroyed Jerusalem, Judea, and Galilee. This was in keeping with what Jesus described as the ‘Day of Vengeance’ (Luke 21:22). And, in keeping with their self-condemnation (Matthew 27:24-26), they have continued to suffer under the righteous judgment of God ever since.

What about Ezekiel 18:19-20, Yet you say, “Why should the son not bear the guilt of the father?” Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live. The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself? So why does the Jewish nation suffer for the sins of the ancient priests? Because it was the nation of Israel that rejected Jesus as Messiah, not just the priests. They came out to hear Jesus teach, heal, and reveal the principles of Kingdom life, but very few received Him as Lord and Savior. It’s that way today and has been for the past 2,000 years. But if a wicked man turns from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die. None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; because of the righteousness which he has done, he shall live (Ezekiel 18:21-22).

That generation of Jews in Israel saw the destruction of their Temple, city, and nation in A.D. 70. But there were many who came out of that judgment unscathed because they repented of sin, put their faith in Jesus as the Christ, and scattered to the nations before the armies of Rome came.

I have no doubt God’s judgment hangs over any nation that has no respect for His Son, Jesus Christ. His judgment may not be immediate, but it is immanent. I believe this country, our United Sates, stands under the sentence of God’s judgment today. I do not believe He will necessarily send armies into the country over-night (i.e. the movie “Red Dawn”), but it may very well be as the Apostle Paul said in Romans 1:18-32 - God will simply back off and let the consequences of our national sins run their course to national self-destruction. My mother use to say, “If God does not punish this nation for is sins, then He will have to apologize to Sodom and Gomorrah.” 

Do we as Christians flee the country to safety? What nation could we flee to that’s not as spiritually wicked as we are? No. We are here because God keeps us here to minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ to this area. Someone once said to me, “Why do you stay in Winton and Atwater with all of its sin, gangs, drugs, immorality, etc.?” My response was, “Where better to have a church than at the gates of hell rescuing people before they enter in?” 

“Holy Spirit, keep us faithful to the Lord Jesus Christ and His Gospel so that people may hear, believe and be saved from the judgment of God for their sins. All to Your glory I ask, Amen.”

Pastor