A Just God
Thomas Jefferson wrote,
“Indeed, I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just.” Thomas Jefferson.
The writer of Ecclesiastes wrote,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
I believe we all will have a lot to account for when we stand before God. And the more power we have the more we will have to answer for. The Talmud states,
“When a man appears before the Throne of Judgment, the first question he is asked is not, “Have you believed in God?” Or “Have you prayed and observed the ritual? “He is asked: “have you dealt honourably and faithfully in all your dealings with your fellow men?”The Talmud.
This not just a Jewish concept. Jesus told this parable,
“There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and lived in luxury every day.
At his gate was laid a beggar named Lazarus, covered with sores and longing to eat what fell from the rich man’s table. Even the dogs came and licked his sores.
“The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham’s side. The rich man also died and was buried.
In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side.
So he called to him, ‘Father Abraham, have pity on me and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, because I am in agony in this fire.’
“But Abraham replied, ‘Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, while Lazarus received bad things, but now he is comforted here and you are in agony.
And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who want to go from here to you cannot, nor can anyone cross over from there to us.’
“He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,
for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’
“Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’
“ ‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’
“He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’ ” Luke 16:19-31.
God will one day judge the world. Whether you believe in Him or not.
C. S. Lewis said,
“A man can no more diminish God's glory by refusing to worship Him than a lunatic can put out the sun by scribbling the word 'darkness' on the walls of his cell.” C.S. Lewis, The Problem of Pain.
If I am wrong about the existence of God and His righteous judgment then you have nothing to fear. If I am right and I firmly believe I am then the individual has a lot to fear.
I believe the more power we have in this world the more we will be held accountable for.
In the parable of Jesus I quoted above the rich man could have just as easily been a politician. A politician with the power to see that even the poorest in our society has enough to eat, a roof over their heads and good medical care. All basic human rights.
Even our religious leaders should be calling on all people in power to do what is only right before God.
As individuals, we should be doing what we can to help those around us. We as individuals should be calling on our politicians to provide at the very least the necessities of life to all people.
We are our brothers keeper whether we like it or not.
The Talmud tells this story,
Rabbi Akiba was asked by a Roman general, “Why does your God who loves the needy not provide for their support Himself?” He answered, “God the Father of both the rich and poor, wants the one to help the other so as to make the world a household of love.” The Talmud.
Question: Are you making this world a household of love?
When you stand before God what will he say about you and how you dealt with your fellow man?
Please think about it.
