Logical Consequences

And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the Lord our God shall cut them off.

Psalm 94:23

Not every story has a happy ending.  The realities of life teach us that.  The psalmist has wrestled mightily with the prosperity of the wicked.  He has apparently smarted under their oppression and suffered as the result of their affliction.  God has given him comfort as well as insight into the final result.  He has been able to see the end of the wicked.  This is consistent with what we know of God.  We must embrace a whole God, a whole Christ, and a whole Bible.  What that means, in real terms, is that some people will encounter Christ as Savior, and others will encounter Christ as Judge.  For some the ending is good.  For others the ending is dire.  All of the rest of Scripture bears this out.  Christ describes the Last Judgment Himself in Matthew 25.  John describes it again in Revelation 20.  The Book of Revelation is replete with scenes that demonstrate Christ bringing on the evildoers ‘their own iniquity,’ and cutting them off ‘in their own wickedness.’  We preach Christ as the loving, merciful Savior.  In order to preach all the counsel of God, we must also present Him as the Judge of all the earth, Who will do right.  What He does is good in terms of love, mercy, justice and truth.  While there is yet opportunity, look to Christ as Savior, that you do not encounter Him as your Judge.

Our Holy and Just God,
we rejoice in Your Mercy as well as in Your Truth.
We praise You that You will do that which is right,
according to Your Own Holy Character.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning