“In flaming fire, inflicting vengeance”

“In flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.” (2 Thessalonians 1:8 ESV)

Usually, we write about what it means to know Christ. How He changes lives and His love for His creation - us. Today is about what it means not to know Christ. Paul is speaking about the return of Christ, His second coming.

Truly, without Christ, there is great trouble for those in that position. This is not about those who have never heard of Jesus, if that is possible, but those who do not believe and will not. Those whose scientific mind knows more than God. Those who believe we are an accident, a result of the evolution of slime in a swamp, or of apes. Darwin had a theory, but it was never proven, and it remains unproven.

Throughout the prophets, we are warned about turning from God. Isaiah wrote, “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” It is why Christ came: because we cannot save ourselves. But people do not believe there is anything to be saved from. Yet the Bible gives us great examples of God’s wrath.

In revealing God's wrath, Achan serves as an example found in the Book of Joshua. Achan disobeyed God and received His wrath. Achan kept spoils of war which he was forbidden to keep: “Then Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the Lord God of Israel and give praise to him. And tell me now what you have done; do not hide it from me.” And Achan answered Joshua, “Truly I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and this is what I did: when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them. And see, they are hidden in the earth inside my tent, with the silver underneath.”(Joshua 7:19-21).

God destroyed not only Achan but all of his family and belongings, using Israel as His hand: And Joshua said, “Why did you bring trouble on us? The Lord brings trouble on you today.” And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones. And they raised over him a great heap of stones that remains to this day. Then the Lord turned from his burning anger. Therefore, to this day the name of that place is called the Valley of Achor. (25-26) Those who refuse God will be destroyed; Scripture makes this point clear.

The destination for those who refuse God is hell. Christ tells us this most often during His ministry through the gospels. In Matthew’s gospel, Jesus said, “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” (5:22) Failing to forgive leads to God’s wrath. Jesus also said about hell those sent there suffer greatly, “where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.” (Mark 9:48) Those in hell know they sent themselves there. You are eternal, and while the fire burns and the worm tortures, you know why. Jude, brother of Jesus, wrote, “Just as Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding cities, which likewise indulged in sexual immorality and pursued unnatural desire, serve as an example by undergoing a punishment of eternal fire.” (1:7). Such is our world today, where sexual immorality and unnatural desires are normalized.

It is Paul who tells us clearly and to the point that: “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23) Those who refuse God, those who sin, will pay eternally for their rebellion against God. Even when there is a way to turn from the road to hell, these people refuse. Paul Washer once said the gates of hell are locked from the inside. I believe this to be true, these souls do not want Christ. Even with darkness, isolation, and pain as the destination, some will not bend the knee before God. It is not sad; it is overwhelmingly devastating.

Is this you? Do you refuse to believe there is a God, that he created all things, especially you? And you, you who refuse to believe, He created you in His image with a purpose, and not the one you made for yourself, but to serve Him who is full of grace and mercy. It is not too late, and though our next breath is not promised. Christ can redeem you you.

The apostle John wrote, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” These are not just words on a sign at a football game. Christ gave Himself as a sacrifice so that your sins would be forgiven. He bore your sins and paid for them with His blood. John said, “Whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”  Your sins are deceiving you; your nature of Adam drives you further and further away from Christ. Will you not turn from your sin now? Will you not change your mind and turn to Christ? If this is you, I pray God will touch your heart, and this time you will not turn away.

Grace and Peace.