Whether you are a Russian leader thinking you can do anything you want or any other person like him in history; whether you are a Jew who because of being the chosen people can sin like the Gentiles; whether you passionately live out your religion appeasing many gods as you daily worship them; or even perhaps you are a ‘saved’ Christian who knows it is God’s job to forgive you as you live your blasé sinful life; no one is untouchable.
Why doesn’t God take out Putin?
Maybe He will, He can of course. But if that was the way of God then where would He stop? How sure are we that He wouldn’t stop with us?! I don’t think I would be writing this if God dealt with me in justice and with the way my sin deserved.
“So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God’s judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God’s wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed.” (Romans 2 v 3-5)
Kindness, Forbearance and Patience! That’s His approach. Not dragging us by the ear to repentance but leading us. The Message says, “God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change.” Isn’t that amazing? And our response?
Stubbornness and Unrepentant: refusing to take His hand, being self-righteous, self-justifying stance about how I live my life. “I do this because of this”.
Paul says to the Jew that they cannot do this anymore. They are storing up wrath against themselves. Even as a chosen people they will be judged.
So this points to the wonderful gospel of a Saviour Jesus who came and touched the world with grace and mercy and who every day reaches out His hand to you and me to walk away from the ways of the world and into the ways of God.
Missions Paul 