2005-10-16 - An Answer to Sin

Psalm 10, Part 7

Verse 14: Clearly David expects the Lord to act. He loves and cares for the afflicted. He hears their cries; therefore He defends those who are not able to protect themselves. And just as this was true in David's day, so it is true in ours.

David, as king of Israel, looks for God to bring destruction on the unrighteous. He expects God to bring them to justice and to vindicate the righteous. And the day will come when this will happen. But meanwhile, we are reminded to bring the call of God's mercy and payment for the sin of the unrighteous. We are not called to pray for God to destroy the unbeliever.

Instead, we can look forward to God's intervention with the same confidence David could. God hears us. He hurts for us. And He will defend the helpless, the oppressed, and those that suffer for Him. The day will come when the children of God will suffer no more at the hands the children of the Devil. But that day is not here yet.

Conclusion: We live in the light of the first Advent. We are to bring the message of the incarnation. God chose to take on human form. This is the coming of Jesus to bring salvation, as well as reconciliation between individuals and God. People must be first confronted with their sinful condition and the fact we live in a world that is a product of that sin.

But there is an answer to sin! And what greater message can we bring to hurting people than forgiveness of sins? But although we must make sure people have this message, they must also understand that, while Jesus came as the suffering Messiah to provide a sacrifice for sin, He is coming again to bring peace though judgment and justice. Jesus didn't come the first time to assume His rightful rulership. But He certainly will at the second coming. It is appropriate to celebrate the first advent of Messiah, and rejoice in the greatest gift ever given to mankind, the gift of salvation. But let us also look with joy and anticipation to that day when the One whose birthday we celebrate in December will be in the midst of us, and we can celebrate with Him. It is then that we will finally have an answer to the question:

"Why, O LORD, do you stand far off?"

God doesn't.

The truth of the virgin birth, the death on the cross and the resurrection, provide the foundations of our total confidence in the return of the Lord for His own. And when that day is finally at hand, the righteous will never again ask God, "Are you there? Do you see what is happening?" Our comfort and confidence is in the fact that one day soon, righteousness will prevail, and unrighteousness will be judged.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 "Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words."

"Even so come, Lord Jesus!

Comments or Questions?
Geoff

GKragen@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org