Reject Revenge

Revenge is a common themes in books, shows, and films.  From "Gladiator" to "Taken," "The Princess Bride" to "The Count of Monte Cristo," the desire for revenge fuels the plot.  Revenge films begin similarly:  the stage is set by a great injustice, the protagonist is introduced, and characters are developed.  Before too long we sympathise with the protagonist(s) and hope the bad guys reap what they have sown.  The only good resolution in a revenge movie is suffering and death for those who have done wrong.  People want those who have done wrong to suffer.  This is our natural inclination.  Hollywood is happy to pander to common appetites.

Have you ever considered how ungodly and unbiblical the concept of revenge is?  We read in the Bible of people taking revenge, but they were not commended by God for their violence.  He says in Ezekiel 18:32:  "For I have no pleasure in the death of one who dies," says the Lord GOD. "Therefore turn and live!"  When Jesus hung on the cross, knowing He would in three days rise from the dead, He did not shout out:  "Just you wait until I return.  I'll get you for this!"  No.  He said loudly for all to hear, "Father, forgive them.  They know not what they do."  It is not revenge that will be on Christ's mind when He judges the world, but righteousness.  Yet not even the death of the wicked gives God any pleasure.  Again, God says through the prophet in Ezekiel 33:11:  "Say to them: 'As I live,' says the Lord GOD, 'I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn, turn from your evil ways! For why should you die, O house of Israel?'"  God has given all men the only way of salvation through the sacrificial death of His own Son, Jesus Christ.  God made a way for the murderers of His Son to be forgiven and go to heaven to live forever with Him.

Imagine a film being made of that story!  It would be seen as the most ridiculous, unsatisfying film of all time for the vengeful, bloodthirsty masses.  Jesus lived under a cloud as a child because of His "questionable" origin, the apparent illegitimate son of a carpenter.  His own brothers did not believe His claims. John 7:5 says, "For even His brothers did not believe in Him."  Jesus was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.  Hebrews 5:8 tells us "though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered."  Jesus was bullied, misjudged, and rejected.  If Stephen King was to write a novel about a person who endured what Jesus had, he no doubt would have snapped and become driven by murderous revenge on those who had tormented him in his family and town.  But Jesus did not seek revenge.  He loved His enemies and prayed for them.  He chose to die in their place.  What an amazing revelation of divine love!

Hollywood sends the message that if we have been wronged severely enough, we have the right to take vengeance on our enemies - or at least fantasize about it!  God commands us not to take vengeance, for that is God's territory.  Romans 12:19 reads, "Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord."  God's judgments are not spurned on by the base desire for revenge, but according to His perfect standard of righteousness.  When a man sins, he sins against God.  Instead of taking revenge, we are to exercise faith in God, His total knowledge of the situation, and His ability to protect and uphold us.  Jesus taught in Matthew 5:43-45:  "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' ⁴⁴ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."

If God does not rejoice in the death of the wicked, neither should we.  Little by little I am finding my appetite for revenge waning.  As we draw nearer to our Saviour Jesus Christ, the more we start to think and act like Him.  May we take Christ's commands to heart and love our enemies.