Acts 17:31 says, “Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead.” I would like to continue this week talking about how our God is reasonable. He is no sporadic, random, irrational, or unreasonable. He has laid out His plan for the ages in the pages of The Bible. He has not left us to guess, or assume what is from Him and what is not. We must not be false accusers of God, and blame Him for everything evil that happens in this world - especially not when the righteous perish in it. It’s time to know our God.

Modern day “prophets” can’t wait for some disaster to happen before they are shouting from the rooftops “God is judging America!”. Consider this: these people never predict these things before hand. True Prophets in the Bible predicted accurately and clearly when something was God’s judgment. They didn’t wait for something to happen, and then declare it was God! Why do so many of us Christians jump on that bandwagon? Are you a prophet? Did God speak to you years ago that an earthquake, flood, fire, hurricane, etc., was going to hit a specific place and time, and did you write it down? Did it come to pass? This is almost never the case. We need not be judges of God. That is not our business or our right.

Jesus said we would see these things (earthquakes, floods, famine, etc.) towards the end, but the end is not yet. These things are indiscriminate. God’s judgment is not indiscriminate. It is specific, and it is upon the unrighteous. These are simply birth pains. The earth is groaning in travail, waiting for the Lord to make all things right again (Rom 8:19-22). It’s like when an old house is fixin’ to come down. It creeks and moans and groans before it collapses.

Were not the righteous delivered from the judgment on the wicked? Was not Noah delivered? Was not Lot delivered? Was not Rahab delivered? Yes. The righteous were delivered out of God’s judgment. True, the righteous will sometimes suffer tragedy on this earth; but it is because we live in a sinful, fallen world, and because satan seeks whom he may devour- not because God is judging us. Jesus already took the judgment of the righteous. If you are in Christ, your judgment fell on Him, and you are delivered. Just meditate on some of these Scriptures: Isa 53:3-6, 1Jn 4:10, Rom 8:3-4, Gal 3:13-14, 1Jn 3:5, 1Pt 3:18, Heb 2:9, 1Tim 2:6.

Jesus came to save men’s lives, not destroy them (Lk 9:56). He came to seek and to save that which was lost (Lk 19:10, Mt 18:11). Jesus did not come to judge the world, but to save it (Jn 12:47). When you receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you are not condemned with the world (Jn 3:16-18). You see, today is the day of salvation (2Cor 6:2). We are to be ambassadors for Christ, and our ministry is the ministry of reconciliation - not condemnation. Our word is to be the word of reconciliation (2Cor 5:17-21). That is the Gospel. “Be reconciled to God, because He has reconciled Himself to you through the cross of Jesus”.

There is a day appointed for judgment (Acts 17:31). Judgment day, the last day, the great and terrible day of the Lord, etc.. That will be the day of judgment. That day is not today. Check out all of these Scriptures concerning this: 2Pt 2:9, Rev 19:11, Jud 14&15, 2Tim 4:1, Mat 12:36, Jn 12:48, Jud 6, Rom 2:5 & 16, Heb 9:27, 2Pt 3:7. This is not an exhaustive list. When is judgment? On the last day. Who is judged? The ungodly and wicked. As Christians, we are to have boldness and confidence in the day of judgment, because we are in Christ right now (1Jn 4:17). When The Lord comes, then the judgment will come (1Cor 4:5).

The world likes to blame God when tragedy strikes. Sadly, God’s own children do the same thing. Do we not live in a fallen world? Is satan not the god of this world system? Do we not have a real enemy that we are to resist (Jam 4:7)? God is on our side. He loves us. He is for us. He is our Father. Jesus is our friend and brother. If God is for us, who can be against us? We are heirs of God, co-heirs with Jesus Christ. We are victorious in Christ. We are justified, sanctified, redeemed, made righteous, forgiven, accepted, complete in Jesus Christ. We must declare this. We must believe this. This is where are victory is.

Satan is the accuser of the Brethren, but many times the brethren are the accusers of God. Let’s start proclaiming God’s goodness. Let’s start praising Him - our hope, our peace, our righteousness is in Him. If you are a Christian, your righteousness is not filthy rags; for our righteousness is God’s own righteousness. Lord willing, we will talk about Christian judgment next week. Until next time, rejoice in The Lord!