July 1, 2006
Newsletter Archives

Most of us would not believe we are tolerant of evil. Yet all we have to do is turn the clock back fifty years to see how much attitudes toward sin have changed. Behavior that would have shocked everyone then, has become entertainment now. And because we don’t take sin seriously, we assume that God doesn’t either. That is a fatal mistake, because God has an immeasurable hatred of sin.
In vivid language, the prophet Nahum records God’s reaction to our sin. He states, “The Lord is a jealous God and avenges; the Lord avenges and is full of wrath; the Lord takes vengeance of His adversaries, and He reserves wrath for His enemies.Who can stand before His indignation and who can abide in the fierceness of His anger? His wrath is poured out like fire, and the rocks are broken asunder by Him.” Nahum 1:2,6.
The crucifixion of the Lord Jesus is the clearest indication of God’s assessment of sin. If there had been an easier way of dealing with our sin, God would have found it. But payment for our sin demanded the unbounded suffering of Christ. Sin is not a small matter.
Another indicator of God’s attitude toward sin is seen in eternal punishment. The Bible teaches that there is a real hell of burning fire. The Lord Jesus Himself spoke of a man who was already there. He said, “..the rich man also died, and was buried; and in hell he lifted up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.” Luke 16:22-24. This was not a parable; it was a reality.
For this very reason, I am glad that God has provided an escape from this awful judgment. The Lord Jesus taught “Verily, verily, I say unto you, he that hears my Word, and believes Him that has sent me, has life eternal, and does not come into judgment, but is passed out of death into life.” John 5:24. God has provided for our sins, but we must accept the gift of salvation or take the punishment.

Russ Nesbit.