by jimwalton » Thu Dec 14, 2017 2:21 pm
> It just seems strange to wait so long.
The Bible says that God is a God of patience and mercy. It also says that he doesn't want anyone to be judged, so he gives people time and repeated opportunities to repent, sending them many messages so they can consider, evaluate, and decide.
I don't know what your spiritual position is, but this could be the same going on right now. Instead of God judging you instantly, He may be talking to you through me. There is time to repent, to put off whatever separates you from God, and to come to Him. Accept the forgiveness God offers and be born again. This is your chance, during your life is your opportunity. Maybe today is the day of salvation for you. No one knows how many days they have.
> If God judges people for breaking why not punish them immediately?
The Bible is clear that the world doesn't work according to the retribution principle (good people get blessed right away and bad people get punished right away). If that were the case, we would start being good for the wrong reason and become corrupted with power and pride very easily. And if we were punished immediately by God every time we did something wrong, we would live in absolute fear of Him. This is not what God designed for life or how He wants to interact with us. He loves us, wants to treat us with mercy and forgiveness, and wants to shower us with His grace. He offers forgiveness and grace as a free gift to any who will accept it. But for those who stubbornly continue in rebellion against him, He will continue to invite you, speak to you through books, thoughts, and conversations, be patient with you and give you many opportunities to turn to him for "rehabilitation". If you don't accept that while you're alive, you obviously aren't interested in a love relationship with Him and refuse to accept the truth about Him. Then nothing will be different when you die. You choose how you want to be.
Your chance of "rehabilitation" is now. Come to God while He is speaking to you, and be made alive with real life—a new creation.
> It just seems strange to wait so long.
The Bible says that God is a God of patience and mercy. It also says that he doesn't want anyone to be judged, so he gives people time and repeated opportunities to repent, sending them many messages so they can consider, evaluate, and decide.
I don't know what your spiritual position is, but this could be the same going on right now. Instead of God judging you instantly, He may be talking to you through me. There is time to repent, to put off whatever separates you from God, and to come to Him. Accept the forgiveness God offers and be born again. This is your chance, during your life is your opportunity. Maybe today is the day of salvation for you. No one knows how many days they have.
> If God judges people for breaking why not punish them immediately?
The Bible is clear that the world doesn't work according to the retribution principle (good people get blessed right away and bad people get punished right away). If that were the case, we would start being good for the wrong reason and become corrupted with power and pride very easily. And if we were punished immediately by God every time we did something wrong, we would live in absolute fear of Him. This is not what God designed for life or how He wants to interact with us. He loves us, wants to treat us with mercy and forgiveness, and wants to shower us with His grace. He offers forgiveness and grace as a free gift to any who will accept it. But for those who stubbornly continue in rebellion against him, He will continue to invite you, speak to you through books, thoughts, and conversations, be patient with you and give you many opportunities to turn to him for "rehabilitation". If you don't accept that while you're alive, you obviously aren't interested in a love relationship with Him and refuse to accept the truth about Him. Then nothing will be different when you die. You choose how you want to be.
Your chance of "rehabilitation" is now. Come to God while He is speaking to you, and be made alive with real life—a new creation.