Gospel
Divine Judgment
Bro. Aby Kuruvilla, Mumbai
“Act of God” is a term that we often come across in the fine print of insurance policies. Things that are supernatural or beyond the scope of man’s control are often perceived as interventions of the hand of God in earthly affairs.
Earliest Record
The earliest record of God’s divine judgement dates to more than four thousand years ago, when God destroyed the earth with a flood. Sufficient archaeological evidence exists pointing to the great flood that engulfed the whole world. Before the flood, God was through Noah, warning the world for about 120 years. He provided a way of escape through the ark that Noah built. Yet only eight souls paid heed and escaped (Gen. 6:3; 1 Pet. 3:20).
God not only judges through calamities but also through divine punishments. When the first man and woman sinned, God judged them with curses. He cursed the woman with multiplied sorrow in her conception. And, for man, he cursed the ground so that he would have to labour hard to eat the fruit of it. But there was a more severe punishment waiting for them due to their disobedience.
God had warned them that the day they disobeyed his command, they would surely die. Man disobeyed God and therefore “sin entered the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for all have sinned” (Rom. 5:12). Death is God’s judgement upon sin.
Consequence of sin
Sin is not an illusion or something that affects only our material body. It affects our entire being even to the life after death. It is foolish to think that sin has no serious consequence. God has appointed a day of judgment. Every man will stand to give an account of himself before God his Maker. Every man will be judged according to his deeds, and for every word of God that was rejected (Matt. 12:36; John 12:48; 1 Pet. 4:5).
On that dreadful day, God will separate sinful man from himself to a place of eternal judgement, which is the lake of fire. This is the second death as per the Bible. There could be no greater judgement upon mankind than to eternally lose the bliss of communion with God!
Now, God is not to be misunderstood as an angry destroyer. On the contrary, the Bible says that He is loving and longsuffering. God’s judgements are sovereign, just, and righteous. Before He judges, He graciously provides a way of escape. The greatest way of escape for man today is Jesus Christ.
Way of Escape
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). The judgement of sin which was to fall on man, God laid upon Jesus Christ. He was sinless, yet he died for our sins. Not only did he die, but on the third day he rose again from the grave, thus gloriously proclaiming his victory over death. They who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ escape the second death.
But let us not take this for granted. The Bible warns us against unbelief. If one continuously rejects God’s calling, God will judge. He, in judgment, gives them up “to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves… unto vile affections… to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient” (Rom. 1:20-30). What this means is that the rebellious man begins to degenerate morally, socially, emotionally, and spiritually, eventually leading to his destruction.
Today is the day of grace. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved from that great Day of Judgment. G&P
