"The LORD God formed man from the dust of the earth. He blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being." Genesis 2:7
"And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne. And there were open books, and one of them was the book of life. And the dead were judged according to their deeds, as recorded in the books." Revelation 20:12
It is vital to remember that God created us in His image and as individuals. You and I will not be judged as a group, type, nationality or gender or any other label society places on us. You and I were created by God deliberately and for a reason. In a world were we sadly put people in groups and then judge them accordingly leaving justice to be set off to the side discarded due to rank, color, or financial privileges. There is only one answer: Jesus Christ.
There is no other religion or belief system that offers complete forgiveness, healing, and escape from judgment save the cross of Jesus Christ. Sin is real and needs to be dealt with. The blood of Jesus is the only remedy offered by the one whom we offended, the Lord God Almighty, our creator.
The evil deeds of those inspired by the prince of darkness will continue until the end - of that we can be sure. However, do not get caught in Satan's trap of condemning individuals who have the same appearance or beliefs based on the deeds of others. The Lord created you and me as a solitary, distinct person, each responsible for our actions.
We all can agree that this world is not just. How many times have you heard a child proclaim, "That's not fair!" Hate is the venom Satan has used to destroy people and nations for ages. It is as old as time itself. Forgiveness through Jesus Christ is the only path to peace. Those who harm others must be held accountable. Immediate and swift justice prevents the spread of distrust and hate.
This verse in Isaiah 59:14, comes to mind. "Justice is turned back, and righteousness stands far away; for truth has stumbled in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter."
Jesus is the answer. The apostle Paul tells us in II Corinthians 5:18, that we have the ministry of reconciliation. "And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him."
Let us be the ones who speak peace to a troubled generation through the love and power of the Holy Spirit. We all share two fundamental truths. We are all made in the image of God, and we need forgiveness for our sins. It is not easy to go against the flow, but if we take our stand in the middle of the raging stream, God will enable us to reach out and save many from drowning.
I will end with this scripture from the Book of Daniel. "I heard, but I did not understand. So I asked, 'My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?' He replied, 'Go your way, Daniel because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end. Many will be purified, made spotless, and refined, but the wicked will continue to be evil. None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.'"
Let us be one of the wise.
God bless,
Russ