By: Scott Adkins, Sling ‘n Stone Ministry
Carter County Times
God’s Word declares, and history shows, that divine judgment presents a strange work. (Isaiah 28:21). A strange work for whom? For The Lord God Almighty. God’s judgment, when He sends it, obliterates nations; cities; and people. (Genesis 7:21-23) (“And all flesh died that moved upon the earth.”); (Genesis 19:24-28) (“The Lord rained upon Sodom & Gomorrah brimstone and fire… the smoke went up as the smoke of a furnace.”). But apocalyptic judgment never presents God’s first choice.
God prefers mercy. (Micah 7:18) (“He delights in mercy.”). Mercy is God’s withholding what all deserve – His wrath and judgment; and instead, giving us what none deserve – eternal life through His Only Begotten Son. (John 3:16). To that end, the Lord declares in Ezekiel 33:11:
“I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Why will ye die?”
God, in His mercy, pleads we “choose life,” (Deuteronomy 30:19). Why? So that we and our children might live. (Deuteronomy 30:19). But, oh so many “will not come to (Him) that (they) might have life.” (John 5:40).
When God talks about life and death, He’s talking about forever – heaven and hell. We know that is so because, for example, the Lord Jesus talks in Revelation about something He calls the “Second Death.” (Revelation 2:11; 20:6; 20:14). What’s that, y’all ask? The Second Death happens when, finally, God undertakes His Strange Work of judgment – on that Great Day, history’s last day, when all who died in their sins stand before He Who sits on the throne and account to Him for their wickedness and sin against Him. (Revelation 20:12-13). God will show no mercy on that day. Absent from above His Great White Throne that day will be God’s mercy symbol. (Revelation 4:3) (emerald rainbow); (Revelation 20:11) (no rainbow).
How does history prove judgment God’s Strange Work? Since 1973, America has murdered over 63 million babies as they slept in their mothers’ wombs; yet, God has not reduced our cities to ashes. June 25, 2015: US Supreme Court declared legal what God declares an abomination – men marrying men. But neither the US Supreme Court nor Washington, D.C. yet lie in smoking ruins. So yes, history proves judgment presents God’s Strange Work.
But His Strange Work approaches for the world, (Revelation chps. 5-19), and for each of us individually: “It is appointed unto man once to die, but after this the judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27). God promises much, but He promises no tomorrow. So, God warns each person: “Today is the day of salvation.” (II Corinthians 6:2). That’s why Jesus warned how awful hell’s torments forever will be. (Matthew 13:50). None need suffer God’s Strange Work or hell’s torments – instead, repent and follow Jesus down His narrow way – His holiness highway – to eternal life. (Matthew 7:14): (Isaiah 35:8). God, in His mercy, pleads y’all do so today… ‘cause your tomorrow might never come. (Proverbs 29:1) (“He, that being often reproved hardeneth his neck, shall suddenly be destroyed.”)
Editor’s note: The views of Sling n’ Stone Ministry aren’t necessarily those of myself or other members of the Carter County Times. We present the author’s views here – uncensored – in the interest of free access and discourse. We urge our readers to get along with all of their neighbors, regardless of faith or conviction, and to judge not lest ye be judged by those same standards yourself, and find yourself lacking. (Matthew 7:1-3) We further urge you to allow others to adhere to their own convictions, working out their own salvation with fear and trembling before the Lord. (Philippians 2:12) Love your neighbor. (Leviticus 19:18, Matthew 22:37-39, Mark 12:30-31) And leave the Judgement for He who can look into our hearts to “judge the righteous and the wicked.” (Ecclesiastes 3:17)
We are all fallible. Not one of us knows the secret torments or convictions of our neighbors’ hearts. The very least we can do during the short time appointed us is to be kind to one another.
