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Wednesday, August 26, 2015
Judgment or Consequences
The crash of the stock market against the backdrop of Planned Parenthood selling baby parts, the Iran nuclear deal, and the redefinition of marriage has caused many to believe that America is under God’s judgment. The recent Daily Jots have tried to explain the difference between judgment and self-inflicted consequences. This has prompted legitimate questions such as: “So you think anything that happens to America from now until the fire falls during the Tribulation is not God’s judgment? What about ancient Israel, the destruction of the Temple, their going into exile? That was all due to their disobedience, but did not God orchestrate it all?” Short answer: Israel is an example, but America is not the same as Israel in God’s eyes.
My study of the Bible indicates that God went into covenant with Israel. There was a covenant relationship. His prophets warned Israel and Judah of the coming judgments if they did not follow his precepts. And the Lord, as always, was/is true to his word. God has not entered into covenant with America. While my ancestors on the Mayflower, and those at Jamestown, proclaimed covenant with the Lord about this land, it is not the same as God establishing covenant. God’s covenants are everlasting. Man’s are not. Notwithstanding, 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” The laws of God are for all mankind.
America’s Founders knew “the laws of nature and of nature’s God.” The laws of our nation are derived from the precepts set forth by God as recorded in the Bible. There is established law as given by God and it began with the Ten Commandments and culminated in what we see in books like Deuteronomy where the statutes and their consequences are given. Now to the question of God’s judgment. When we go against God’s law as individuals or as nations, there are “just” consequences. Your reap what you sow. If we walk in front of a speeding train, we are going to get hit. Is that God’s judgment? While we did not walk circumspectly as God’s word tells us, this is not judgment, but consequence of action.
The stock market crash is the consequence of breaking the natural law of stewardship. Murder, covetousness, abominations all have their consequences. God knows the beginning and the end, but gives us free will to choose our way. So between the beginning and the end, we have a lot of headway to decide what happens to us. God does intervene-I have experienced it through prayer, repentance and even seeing His hand of protection–but for the most part, we live our lives-either in obedience or in disobedience; with the appropriate consequences. Ultimately, He judges us righteously. God judges the world/nations in the Day of the Lord and people as in Hebrews 9:27, “…it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment.” Modern prophetic declarations of judgment make for good storylines, but are not necessarily accurate.
www.dailyjot.com
