"All Wrongs Will Be Righted"

  We seem to live in a time where sin is not taken seriously, even in the church of our Lord. The love of God is spoken about (and we should). The mercy of God is explained (and we should). The grace of God is revealed. But then we come to another point and that's the holiness and righteousness of God.

  Moses pleads with God on behalf of the His people in Exodus 34 after the golden calf. Moses calls upon the name of the Lord and God speaks: "The Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth; who keeps lovingkindness for thousands, who forgives iniquity, transgression and sin..." If we stop right here, we all know this about God. We shake our heads knowing His compassion and forgiveness. But God doesn't stop there! "...yet He will by no means leave the guilty unpunished, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and on the grandchildren to the third and fourth generation." (34:6-7) God speaks similar words in keeping with the second commandment in Exodus 20:5-6.

  Quickly we embrace the forgiveness side and love of God extended to us the sinner and we should. As God revealed Himself and even more so in Jesus Christ, mercy and grace are extended and yet there is a justice of punishment for the impenitent transgressor. If there is anything that our world needs to hear us teach, embrace and live out it is this: ALL WRONGS WILL BE RIGHTED! That's the righteousness of God revealed. We look at the murders, the drugs users and alcoholic abuse, the child molesters and the list goes on and we don't want a God who just 'yawns' and winks at man and speaks, "There, there now, I know you didn't mean to do any of that!" We need to take God seriously and see who He really is. He is full of compassion, mercy and grace to those who are hit in the heart that their sins will be held accountable!

  Justice matters to God! Look at the beginning in the garden. Touch the tree and you will die! We see God's righteousness in the flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, in Korah, Dathan and Abiram's rebellion, the captivities of God's people by the Assyrian's and Babylonian's and the destruction of Jerusalem three times. These speak of God's holiness and justice. Then we come to the cross of Jesus Christ, His Son and God makes things real clear that sin is taken seriously and ALL WRONGS WILL BE RIGHTED! And this message should hit the heart of His own people!

  God has spoken His nature. He is love! He is merciful! But He is just and righteous and sin will be dealt with. It's wonderful to sing about the grace and compassion of the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (and let's praise God it is true) but we need to remember that it is spoken from God that "He that spared not His own Son but delivered Him up for us all..."

  And why did He do that? To show man that ALL WRONGS WILL BE RIGHTED whether it is in Jesus or we bear our own punishment. And this is seen over and over as uncommitted people, who once seem to care no longer care and stopped believing the very words of God!